The history of opera for beginners

Shawshank & The Fat Lady

Opera history & composers. Pre-operatic roots and early history ; Early composers ; The Bel Canto composers ; Glossary of opera-related terms ; Verdi : like Charlie the Tuna ; Richard Wagner ; French dudes ; 'Verismo' : true-to-life opera ; Russian and Slavic opera ; 20-th century opera

Opera singers. The operatic voice ; The castrati ; B.C. (Before Caruso) ; Mr. Caruso ; A.C. (after Caruso) ; P.C. (post-Callas)

Listening to opera. In search of miraculous singers

'Listener-friendly' operas

Curtain calls. Scholarly approach to opera ; The future of opera.