Chapters of Opera

Henry Edward Krehbiel

Chapters of Opera by Henry Edward Krehbiel is a rich and detailed historical account of the evolution of opera in New York, tracing its fascinating development from its earliest performances to its full blossoming at the Metropolitan Opera House. With a scholar's precision and a music lover's passion, Krehbiel chronicles the rise and fall of key theaters, the emergence of great singers, and the shifting tastes between Italian, German, and French operatic traditions. The book serves not only as a chronicle of artistic milestones but also as a social history of the city's cultural elite, impresarios, and musical institutions. Readers will follow the careers of famous figures like Mapleson, Maretzek, Melba, Calvé, and Wagner, and gain insight into the behind-the-scenes politics that shaped American opera. First published in the early 20th century and revised multiple times, this edition includes Appendices documenting key seasons at the Metropolitan and Manhattan Opera Houses, making it an invaluable reference for opera historians, cultural scholars, and performing arts professionals. With its chronological clarity and rich commentary, Chapters of Opera remains a foundational work in American music literature.

Table of contents

• PREFACE
• AUTHOR'S NOTE TO THIRD EDITION
• CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION OF OPERA IN NEW YORK
• CHAPTER II EARLY THEATERS, MANAGERS, AND SINGERS
• CHAPTER III THE FIRST ITALIAN COMPANY
• CHAPTER IV HOUSES BUILT FOR OPERA
• CHAPTER V MARETZEK, HIS RIVALS AND SINGERS
• CHAPTER VI THE NEW YORK ACADEMY OF MUSIC
• CHAPTER VII MAPLESON AND OTHER IMPRESARIOS
• CHAPTER VIII THE METROPOLITAN OPERA HOUSE
• CHAPTER IX FIRST SEASON AT THE METROPOLITAN
• CHAPTER X OPERATIC REVOLUTIONS
• CHAPTER XI GERMAN OPERA AT THE METROPOLITAN
• CHAPTER XII END OF ITALIAN OPERA AT THE ACADEMY
• CHAPTER XIII WAGNER HOLDS THE METROPOLITAN
• CHAPTER XIV WAGNERIAN HIGH TIDE
• CHAPTER XV END OF THE GERMAN PERIOD
• CHAPTER XVI ITALIAN OPERA AGAIN AT THE METROPOLITAN
• CHAPTER XVII THE ADVENT OF MELBA AND CALVÉ
• CHAPTER XVIII UPRISING IN FAVOR OF GERMAN OPERA
• CHAPTER XIX BEGINNING OF THE GRAU PERIOD
• CHAPTER XX NEW SINGERS AND OPERAS
• CHAPTER XXI HEINRICH CONRIED AND “PARSIFAL"
• CHAPTER XXII END OF CONRIED'S ADMINISTRATION
• CHAPTER XXIII HAMMERSTEIN AND HIS OPERA HOUSE
• CHAPTER XXIV A BRILLIANT SEASON AT THE MANHATTAN
• APPENDIX I THREE SEASONS AT THE METROPOLITAN OPERA HOUSE
• APPENDIX II TWO SEASONS AT THE MANHATTAN OPERA HOUSE