A History of Opera: The Last Four Hundred Years Book

A History of Opera: The Last Four Hundred Years provides a fresh, authoritative account of opera’s evolution, written by renowned scholars Carolyn Abbate and Roger Parker. This updated edition examines how the art form has developed, how it communicates, and why it continues to captivate audiences. Exploring the enduring tensions between words and music, character and singer, the authors show how opera’s historic masterpieces still hold transformative power today.

Key Features:

• Major new history of opera, updated for the twenty‑first century
• Written by leading scholars Carolyn Abbate and Roger Parker
• Traces opera’s artistic development and cultural significance
• Explores the essential tensions that have shaped the genre
• Ideal for students, opera enthusiasts and readers seeking deeper insight