The Pocket Companion to Opera is the ideal reference for every lover of opera. Portable, informative and easy to use, it contains details of everything from repertoire standards to rarely seen delights - all organised alphabetically by title. For each opera there is a thorough and vivid synopsis, as well as a list of the chief characters with their voice parts. Details of composer, librettist and first performance are given, as well as information on the history of the piece and its place in the context of the composer's work. Ideal for anyone who takes pleasure from live performances or from recordings, this invaluable companion will greatly enhance your enjoyment of the world of opera. - Highly portable, this volume can be taken along to every performance. It features more than 150 operas, from the world's favourites to rarely performed gems - Includes informative synopses that reveal the story, mood and style of each piece, scene by scene.

John Allison was born in South Africa and studied at the University of Cape Town, where he wrote his PhD thesis on the music of Edward Elgar. He moved to Britain in 1989 to work on Opera magazine. He also contributes to other publications, including the Financial Times, and has written a book on Elgar's sacred music.