This rich selection of 29 alto-range opera arias spans from the dawn of Italian opera to the late nineteenth century, featuring early arias by Lully, Purcell, and Scarlatti; eighteenth-century compositions by Handel and Gluck; and latter-day works by Meyerbeer, Rossini, Donizetti, Glinka, and Verdi. This edition features a detailed and scholarly preface by musicologist Henry E. Krehbiel and a new introduction by Roelof Oostwoud. Alto-range vocal majors, vocal instructors, classically trained professional singers, and enthusiasts of vocal music will appreciate this well-chosen and modestly priced compilation.