The widespread performances of opera today — on television, at music festivals, on nationwide tours by professional groups — are introducing more and more people to a lasting enjoyment of musical drama. This invaluable book will add to their knowledge and increase their pleasure.  Here at the fingertips are the plots and characters, the composers and librettists of operas both familiar and obscure, classical and modern, European and American. The stories are summarized clearly and concisely. The characters, composers and librettists are conveniently indexed. From Aida to Zoza, from Porgy and Bess to the Ring, this book supplies the kind of information you need in simple, easy-to-get-at style. Keep it on the shelf with your dictionary and the other books to which you constantly refer.  The whole family will use it.