Roger Parker

The authors make no claims to exhaustive coverage and focus instead on the works of the major composers. The sections on Mozart, Rossini, Verdi, and Wagner are particularly illuminating. It is disappointing, however, that only five of the 567 pages are devoted to operas composed in the last 50 years, and the tone of this section seems both handwringing and dismissive. This caveat aside, the book is a valuable addition to the literature and should be part of all music collections.