A Second Book of Operas

Henry Edward Krehbiel

A Second Book of Operas by renowned music critic Henry Edward Krehbiel offers a rich, scholarly, yet highly readable journey into the world of dramatic music. As a follow-up to his earlier Book of Operas, this volume dives deeper into the origins, stories, and significance of some of the most iconic operas spanning the biblical, romantic, and verismo traditions. From sacred themes in Samson et Dalila and Rubinstein's Geistliche Oper to emotional tales like Pagliacci, Cavalleria Rusticana, and Madama Butterfly, Krehbiel unpacks the dramatic and cultural layers behind each masterpiece. He explores the structure, composers' intentions, musical characteristics, and how each opera reflects the society in which it was created. Not just a guide, this is a window into the soul of operatic storytelling—from Mascagni's meteoric rise to Wolf-Ferrari's contributions and the haunting Russian grandeur of Boris Godounoff. This book is essential reading for music students, opera enthusiasts, historians, and anyone seeking a deeper appreciation of the opera as both an art form and a reflection of human emotion and culture.

Table of contents

• CHAPTER I BIBLICAL OPERAS
• CHAPTER II BIBLE STORIES IN OPERA AND ORATORIO
• CHAPTER III RUBINSTEIN'S “GEISTLICHE OPER”
• CHAPTER IV "SAMSON ET DALILA”
• CHAPTER V "DIE KONIGIN VON SABA”
• CHAPTER VI "HERODIADE”
• CHAPTER VII "LAKME”
• CHAPTER VIII "PAGLIACCl”
• CHAPTER IX "CAVALLERIA RUSTICANA”
• CHAPTER X THE CAREER OF MASCAGNI
• CHAPTER XI "IRIS”
• CHAPTER XII "MADAMA BUTTERFLY”
• CHAPTER XIII "DER ROSENKAVALIER”
• CHAPTER XIV "Konigskinder”
• CHAPTER XV "BORIS GODOUNOFF”
• CHAPTER XVI "MADAME SANS-GENE” AND OTHER OPERAS BY GIORDANO
• CHAPTER XVII TWO OPERAS BY WOLF-FERRARI