A Night at the Opera

A Night at the Opera presents opera-related items from the Library of Congress Music Division, including manuscript and printed scores, librettos, photographs, and set designs dating from the late-eighteenth century through the beginning of the twentieth century. The exhibit also commemorates the bicentennials of opera composers Giuseppe Verdi and Richard Wagner, both born in 1813.

from the Overview:
"Today, major opera houses present works chosen from a wide range of musical styles and periods, relying heavily on masterpieces written between the latter-eighteenth century and the first part of the twentieth for their standard repertoire. The works featured in this exhibition are drawn from this “long nineteenth century,” a time when many operagoers think opera reached its zenith. The Music Division of the Library of Congress is home to a vast collection of opera scores, libretti, set and costume designs, photographs, and production materials representing the full span of operatic history. Drawing on these treasures, and in observance of the bicentennial of Giuseppe Verdi (1813–1901) and Richard Wagner (1813–1883), this exhibit invites viewers to enjoy a night at the opera".
Exhibition Items.

Recommended in the November 2014 issue of ALA's Choice.