First Nights at the Opera

First Nights at the Opera

<div><P>What was it like at the opening night of Mozart€s <I>Don Giovanni or </I>Wagner€s <I>Das Rheingold? </I>This glittering introduction to the world of opera takes us behind the scenes during premiere performances of five extraordinary operas.<br>"A rare and wonderful cultural history."-Philip Kennicott, <I>Washington</I><I> Post</I><br>“An absorbing tangle of minutiae about performing circumstances, personalities, conventions, expectations, critical responses, gossip. . . . This book is readable. Addictively.€-Michael White, <I>Opera Now</I><br>“This thoroughly enjoyable and informative book will delight all opera lovers; highly recommended.€-<I>Library Journal</I><br></P></div>