The artist, Andras Kaldor, was introduced to opera as a child by his parents who held season tickets to the Budapest Opera. Although he trained as an architect, his love of the opera has proved the stronger influence and he has spent the last twelve years painting major opera houses around the world. The facade of each opera house is illustrated in all its splendour, without the distractions of surrounding buildings and street scenes which so often detract from even the best photographs. Each opera house has been personally visited by the artist. The drawings are first done in pen and ink in architectural style, with scrupulous attention to detail. They are then painted in gouache. The effect is stunning and allows the viewer to fully experience the complexity and exuberance of these flamboyant 18th, 19th and 20th century buildings. In addition to the facades Andras Kaldor has also added many detailed drawings of particular aspects of both the exteriors and interiors of the buildings. The text accompanying the pictures is written, in many cases, by well known personalities who have a personal association with the individual opera houses.
Background details of the history, architecture, composers, operas, and singers are given and, where appropriate, there are personal anecdotes. The book will have an immediate appeal to lovers of opera. No other comparable work covers the field. Many of these opera houses, such as Covent Garden, the Bolshoi Theatre, the Opera Comique, the Sydney Opera House, the Metropolitan in New York and the San Francisco Opera House are household names known the world over.
