• A search string must be entered into at least one of the search boxes to initiate a search.
• Searches are string searches, not word searches. Thus searching "verdi" will retrieve both "Verdi" and "Monteverdi". Also, a space is a legitimate character to include in a search, thus searching for " verdi" will retrieve "Verdi" but not "Monteverdi".
• Names are in direct order so "richard wagner" will retrieve "Richard Wagner", whereas "wagner richard" will not.
• There are two types of searches: "contains" and "begins". The first ("contains") searches for a string anywhere in the designated field; the second ("begins") searches for a string at the beginning of the field. When searching for names choose the "contains" operator to search for last names; choose the "begins" operator only if you are certain of the first name.
• There are two possible strategies for searching for two words/strings in a given field that may not be adjacent. One strategy is to choose the same index for both search boxes and to enter one of the words/strings in each box (e.g. entering "wolfgang" in one box and "mozart" in the other will retrieve "Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart"). Another strategy is to use the "%" wildcard character (e.g. enter "wolfgang%mozart" to find "Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart"). Other examples using the "%" wildcard:
  • Title contains "cos%tutte" will retrieve "Così fan tutte, ossia La scuola degli amanti"
  • Composer's name begins "r%wagner" will retrieve both "Richard Wagner" and "Rudolf Wagner-Régency".
  • Composer's name contains "r%wagner" will retrieve two different Franz Wagner's, Gerhard Wagner, Josef Franz Wagner, Karl Jacob Wagner, Richard Wagner, Siegfried Wagner, Theodor Wagner, and Rudolf Wagner-Régency.
  • Name of Librettist begins "w%h%auden" will retrieve "Wystan Hugh Auden".
• Where appropriate, include accents in search terms; e.g. "così".