A Second Book of Operas

A Second Book of Operas by Henry Edward Krehbiel opens a vivid, insightful window onto the ways biblical themes, liturgical drama, and theatrical invention have shaped opera and oratorio across centuries. Krehbiel—a distinguished music critic—traces subjects from Handel and Mozart to Rossini, Verdi, Rubinstein, and Saint-Saëns, examining works such as Samson et Dalila, Moses, and other sacred dramas while unpacking censorship, Lenten performance practices, and the evolution of staging and musical adaptation. This music-focused study moves between close readings of key scores and broad cultural history: how composers reworked material, the interplay between oratorio and staged opera, and the shifting tastes that turned scripture into spectacle. Krehbiel’s chapters survey Biblical narratives onstage, the ambitions of composers like Rubinstein to rival Wagner, and debates over dramatic faithfulness, costume, and choreography—rich with anecdotes and critical perspective rather than technical jargon. Ideal for opera lovers, classical-music students, performers, and curious listeners, this audiobook illuminates the religious and theatrical currents that informed some of Western music’s most compelling stage works. Listen to deepen your understanding of how sacred stories became enduring music drama.