Darkness in the auditorium, the first quiet notes from the pit, the curtain slowly rises and reveals unfamiliar worlds. A succession of lyrical and tragic moments, glimpses into the depths of the human soul, borne into our ears by sublime melodies, and at the end a standing ovation. The infinite facets of an evening at the opera have delighted opera-goers and enlivened our cultural life for four centuries. The present volume will help a new generation of opera-goers discover the fascination and vividness of opera. It contains a work-by-work guide to 338 operas by 124 composers. Written by a team of international experts, the texts describe the origins of each opera, explore aspects of the music, instrumentation and stage realization, and recall some notable performers. The illustrations -- more than 1500 of them -- provide a colorful and expressive portrait of opera as a totality. They include numerous hitherto unpublished stage designs, historic illustrations, portraits of leading characters and performers, and scenes from performances at internationally renowned opera houses. The addition of hundreds of musical examples -- operatic hits, themes or leitmotifs -- brings to life this most complex of theatrical genres. The appendix contains a glossary of standard musical terms, more reading for interested opera-goers and detailed indexes of works, people, topics and premières. - Jacket flap.