Opera is a thrilling art form that deals with lifeâ??s rawest emotions and greatest passions: love jealousy revenge forgiveness sex passion corruption fate power and death. Combining music with drama creates an exciting spectacle which can convey emotions create moods and portray the inner feelings and desires of characters more powerfully than words alone. Add in wonderful sets costumes and increasingly complex technical effects and you have a genre that embraces all the arts in one.This accessible and engaging introduction has been written for both students and newcomers to opera. Simply explained and illustrated with pictures from a wide range ofproductions it includes:A guide to what to expect when you go to the operaBehind-the-scenes insights into how an opera is put together and staged including set design costumes lighting and technical effectsAn overview of the history and development of opera through the agesAn in-depth look at 12 featured operas from different periods and stylesA playlist of video clips has been chosen to accompany the book.