Blumenfeld's Dictionary of Musical Theater is a handy and comprehensive reference guide to musicals, operas, operettas, and musical comedies, and is one of those useful little references you'll find yourself reaching for on a frequent basis -- even in this age of Google.
A Comprehensive and Appreciative Resource
Blumenfeld's Dictionary of Musical Theater is a real gem, a beautifully organized and thought-out book that isn't just a reference, but an appreciation or tribute to a genre by an author whose love for the art form is immediate and unmistakeable.
The book itself offers an exhaustive and impressive overview of the art form of musical theater, in an intuitive and simple alphabetical dictionary format. But each entry is not just a simple definition -- instead, users will often find such information as:
- The word or title pronunciation and derivation
- Detailed definitions of the word or phrase
- For opera and show titles, each listing gives the reader a complete mini-history of the show in question, including opening and closing dates, complete credits for book, music and lyrics, originating venue and company, plot summary, and film adaptations, where applicable.
- For people in musical theater, Blumenfeld provides a similarly comprehensive mini-biography of the person in question, offering date of birth (and death, where applicable) as well as an overview of their credits or notable achievements.
A Wealth of Information, from 'Rent' to 'Das Rheingold'
The book itself is meticulously organized, yet written in a lively, conversational tone that makes reading a genuinely fun experience. It's easy to fall into the book, as one definition will often lead to another, and pretty soon you're following a trail of breadcrumbs through the fascinating centuries of musical theatre in all its glory, from cabarets and revues to operas. From Das Rheingold to Rent, the book features over 1800 entries, and serves as a more than worthy companion to Blumenfeld's Dictionary of Acting and Show Business, a separate title for the reference shelf.
A Musical 'Must'
With its fascinating histories of all the great operas, musicals, revues, showcases, and more, as well as easy-reference listings of works by composer, pronunciation guide, and index, Blumenfeld's Dictionary of Musical Theatre is a book you'll find yourself turning to frequently, whether your question hinges on professional necessity, or a simple bet with a musically gifted friend!
It's a definite treasure, and a must for musical theatre professionals, aficionados, and those who love them.
Purchase Info
Title: Blumenfeld's Dictionary of Musical Theater
Author: Robert Blumenfeld
Series: Limelight
Publisher: Limelight Editions (Hal Leonard)
Format: Softcover
Price: $19.99 (US)
Length: 400 pages
