He also revived several obscure operas, including works by Alessandro Scarlatti.

For more than 200 years, Antonio Salieri's obscure opera "Europa Riconosciuta" ("Europa Revealed") was forgotten.

Cassilly spent the early years of his opera career singing primarily with the New York City Opera between 1955-1966, often portraying roles in obscure and contemporary operas.

He opted for historical resonance over glamour, with the utterly obscure opera "Europa Riconosciuta" by Antonio Salieri, the work that had originally opened the house, in 1778.

This is a different path than that taken by other small companies, which may distinguish themselves by performing obscure or new operas.

Yet all three composers are represented by recent releases of obscure operas.

During this period, he revived many obscure operas, such as Wagner's Die Feen and Rienzi and Puccini's Le Villi.

Sometimes that means obscure contemporary operas.

There are at least eight "Don Carlos" performances, more than a dozen "Trovatores," six whole "Ring" cycles, several dozen obscure operas.

Ruth Martin, a writer whose English translations of both popular and obscure operas were widely used in American opera houses, died on Monday at her home in Manhattan.