A reference work for all opera-lovers containing the librettos of all sixteen of Britten's operas, starting with Paul Bunyan in 1941 and Peter Grimes in 1945, ending with Death In Venice in 1973, revised against the composer's own music scores and illustrated with 140 pictures of set and costume designs for the earliest productions of each opera. The story of the creation of each opera is told through articles specially commissioned from writers, artists and producers who were among Britten's principal collaborators.