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A Second Book of Operas: Classic Book Guide and Free Edition

A Second Book of Operas: author and translator credits, catalogue synopsis, subjects and links to the Gutenberg reading formats.

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AI-generated editorial illustration — not a photograph of the subject

A Second Book of Operas is catalogued by Project Gutenberg with author credits for Krehbiel, Henry Edward (1854–1923).

Catalogue synopsis

Project Gutenberg supplies this automated synopsis of the opening text:

"A Second Book of Operas" by Henry Edward Krehbiel is a literary examination of operas, particularly those that draw upon Biblical stories, written during the late 19th century. The work discusses various operas and oratorios, scrutinizing their thematic connections to Biblical narratives as well as the creative processes of their composers, including the manipulations and adaptations that occur when transferring stories from text to stage. The opening of the book sets the stage for Krehbiel’s exploration of Biblical operas, beginning with a discussion on the challenges posed by censorship and audience expectations. He reflects on notable works like Gounod's "Reine de Saba," and how titles and content sometimes shift away from their scriptural origins to appease cultural sensitivities. Krehbiel introduces the complex relationship between music and narrative in operas such as Handel's "Mose in Egitto" and Saint-Saens's "Samson et Dalila," highlighting both the artistic merit as well as the potential pitfalls concerning faithfulness to the original Biblical texts. The opening portion demonstrates Krehbiel’s understanding of the interplay between dramatic representation and musical composition and sets the stage for a deeper analysis of individual operas throughout the subsequent chapters.

Book and edition facts

  • Title: A Second Book of Operas
  • Author credits: Krehbiel, Henry Edward (1854–1923)
  • Catalogue language: English

Catalogue subjects

  • Operas -- Stories, plots, etc.

Gutenberg collections

  • Category: Music
  • Category: Religion/Spirituality
  • Opera

Read this edition

View the complete Gutenberg catalogue record. Project Gutenberg identifies this edition as public domain in the United States; that designation does not establish its copyright status in every country.

Source notes

Catalogue metadata is public domain and is supplied through Gutendex, which imports Gutenberg's machine-readable catalogue. The automated synopsis is source-supplied, not an independently verified review. Author dates above describe the credited people; no ebook release date is presented as the book's original publication date.

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