This landmark series collects compelling, useful, singer-friendly arias from a distinctly American opera tradition. Each volume includes information about every opera and an aria plot note. A majority of the music in the four volumes has never before been available outside of the opera vocal scores, and some arias in the series have never been in print at all before now. Most arias are appropriate for college-level singers. Composers such as Samuel Barber, William Bolcom, Douglas Moore, Virgil Thomson and Gian Carlo Menotti are well represented.

Contents: THE CONSUL: The Foreign Woman’s Aria, To this we’ve come • THE HERO: My sleeping beauty • THE LABYRINTH: The Bride’s Song • THE MEDIUM: The Black Swan, Monica’s Waltz • THE OLD MAID AND THE THIEF: Steal me, sweet thief • THE SAINT OF BLEECKER STREET: Oh, Sweet Jesus, Be good to her • THE TELEPHONE: Hello! Oh, Margaret, it’s you • THE BALLAD OF BABY DOE: Willow Song, Dearest Mama, The Silver Aria, Always through the changing • GALLANTRY: Now, Doctor Gregg, you have gone too far (Lola’s Aria) • SIMON BOLIVAR: Al norte (To the North!) • A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE: I want magic!, Sea Air • THE MIGHTY CASEY: Kiss Me Not Goodbye, A Prayer • SWEENEY TODD: Green finch and linnet bird • TEA: Loved One, Beloved • STREET SCENE: Somehow I never could believe, What good would the moon be