This is a lovely book about Opera. The book contains a number of vintage black and white photographs. Pictured are various opera houses and various opera stars of the times. The book was published in 1936 by RCA Manufacturing Company, Inc., Camden, New Jersey. The book measures 6 5/8 inches by 9 ¼ inches and contains 533 pages. The cover consists of cream covered boards and blue cloth covered spine. The title is in gilt on the spine. The cover shows signs of wear to the edges, corners and to the top and bottom of the spine. The spine is tight and the hinges are strong. There is a marking on the front free end page. The pages are printed on good quality, glossy paper and show no signs of rips. Exceptions noted, the overall condition of this old book is near very good.

Along with this book is a schedule from the Northern Ohio Opera Association for the Fifteenth Season – 1940 of the Grand Opera in Cleveland by the Metropolitan Opera Association from the Metropolitan Opera House – New York City. The brochure measures 3 ¾ inches by 8 ¾ inches and contains 12 pages. The condition of the brochure is very good.

Note: There is no table of contents as such. I have tried to outline the contents to the best of my ability. The book contains synopses of various operas and wonderful vintage photographs of the various productions.

Excerpt - Preface:
Today in America, opera as a musical form is enjoying a well-deserved growing popularity. While in former years it generally attracted large audiences primarily as a form of entertainment, today opera is commanding the attention of both layman and serious musician as an important and significant art form. Because of the constantly growing interest in dramatic music, this tenth edition of the Victor Book of the Opera has been prepared.

As in previous editions, the fundamental features of the book have been retained. The text relates general outlines of the story of each opera. Fro many of the very popular and well-known operas, greater elaboration of the plot has been undertaken, especially in connection with operas recorded in their entirety on Victor records. In the case of operas of which we have only excerpts recorded, a detailed list of such records appears within the continuity of the text at the specific place of musical illustration.

In this new edition, an interesting new feature has been added. While the Victor Book of the Opera heretofore has included only recordings and analyses of works that still hold the stage today in opera houses all over the world, the Victor Library still contains many beautiful vocal and instrumental excerpts form operas that, fro one reason or another, have passed from the active operatic repertoire. A list of such recordings has been appended to the back of this book arranged in the same alphabetical order as the operas themselves. No effort has been spared to make this book as complete and modern as possible. The newest operatic recordings have all been included…
End excerpt

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