I. The Cult ot Bel Canto, Virtuosity, and Hedonism 1 // II. The Vocal Art in Baroque Opera 14 // From Reciting in Song to Roman Opera 14 // Monteverdi 25 // Cavalli and Cesti 38 // Legrenzi, Sartorio, P. A. Ziani, and Pollaiolo 46 // Ciarlo Pallavicino and Steiiani 53 // Scarlatti 59 // The Golden Age: From Lotti to Handel 66 // IH. Particular Aspects ot Baroque Opera 108 // The (’.astrato and the Art of Singing in his Day 108 // Tempest’Arias 115 // Buffo Roles 127 // IV. Rossini 135 // Rossinis Views on Melody and on Singing 135 // Characteristics of Rossinis Writing for the Voice 146 // Types of Voice in Rossinis Operas 157 // Vocalism in the Rossini Period; Performance // Practices; Stendhal’s Views on Singing 171 // V. Death and Resurrection of Bel Canto 188 // Index of Names and ’Pities of Operas 211