It used to be thought that Verdi miscalculated with this attempt at a grand opera in the French style. This guide demonstrates that Don Carlos was and remains an extraordinary achievement in melding two opposing visions of opera: the spectacular public aspect of the French tradition with the dramatic concision of the Italian. And because of the variety of versions which Verdi sanctioned, this debate is open-ended. Contents: A Grand Opera with a Difference, Julian Budden; Off the Beaten Track, Gilles de Van; A Family Portrait in a Royal Household: Don Carlos from Schiller to Verdi, F.J. Lamport; Stendhals Don Carlos: The most moving opera ever written, by Nicholas Cronk; Don Carlos: Grand Opera in Five Acts by Joseph Mery and Camille du Locle; Don Carlo: Italian translation by Achille de Lauzieres and Angelo Zanardini with additional material translated by Piero Faggioni; Don Carlos: English translation by Andrew Porter; Introduction by Jennifer Batchelor