ITALIAN OPERA. AN INTRODUCTION INCLUDING STORIES OF TWELVE FAMOUS OPERAS. by Galatopoulos, Stelios

J.M. Dent & Sons, London, (1971). 179 pp, large 8vo (9 1/2" H), hard cover in dust jacket. B&w plates, music examples. "...traces (opera's) development from the first fine flowering in the Renaissance and its progression to more spectacular, gay, dramatic and intense phases in the hands of such geniuses as Rossini, Donizetti, Bellini, Verdi and Puccini. The lives and careers of all the great Italian opera composers are touched upon and their major works introduced, with interesting sidelights on librettists and singers. The whole scene is related to outside developments such as the different trends and influences of France, Germany and Britain...gives in full the stories of twelve of the most popular Italian operas with musical quotations...includes a glossary and discography..." Tiny bump to top corner of boards. Dust jacket is price clipped, old price sticker on front flap, light edge wear/wrinkling - a little more at top of spine, light rubbing on spine, tiny stain on rear panel, light browning to edges. VG+/VG-.