First Nights at the Opera

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