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The Complete Opera BookGustav Kobbé

The Complete Opera Book

by OpenStories

Original author: Gustav Kobbé

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"The Complete Opera Book" by Gustav Kobbé is a guide to operas first published posthumously in 1919. This comprehensive reference presents opera stories alongside musical notation of leading airs and motives. Covering works from Gluck to early twentieth-century composers, the book organizes operas by national schools and historical periods. Originally left unfinished at Kobbé's death, it was completed by editor Katharine Wright and expanded through numerous editions, becoming the definitive encyclopedic account of opera for generations of music lovers and record collectors.

The Complete Opera Book, by Gustav Kobbé. Republished by OpenStories from Project Gutenberg eBook #40540.

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210 Chapters

  1. 1.Foreword3,384 words
  2. 2.Act I: Entrance to Hades. When Orpheus appears, he is greeted with279 words
  3. 3.Act III: A wood. Orpheus, still under the prohibition imposed by the1,483 words
  4. 4.Act V: Another part of the enchanted garden. Renaud, bedecked with740 words
  5. 5.Act IV: All is ready for the sacrifice. Iphigénie has the knife2,395 words
  6. 6.Act II: Still, the Count, for whom the claims of Marcellina upon6,371 words
  7. 7.Act II: In the Palm Grove. Sarastro informs the priests of the plans2,457 words
  8. 8.Act I: The opera opens with a brisk duet between Jacquino and743 words
  9. 9.Act II: The scene is in the dungeon where Florestan is in heavy785 words
  10. 10.Act I: At the target range. Kilian, the peasant, has defeated Max,463 words
  11. 11.Act III: The first scene again plays in the forester's house. Agathe429 words
  12. 12.Act II: opens with a delightful duet for Agathe and Aennchen and a822 words
  13. 13.Act I: Palace of the King. Count Adolar chants the beauty and virtue289 words
  14. 14.Act III: In a rocky mountain gorge Adolar draws his sword and is (1)8,870 words
  15. 15.Act III: In a rocky mountain gorge Adolar draws his sword and is (2)7,620 words
  16. 16.Act I: The curtain, on rising, discloses a scene of unwonted life on1,589 words
  17. 17.Act II: That night in the fortress of Antwerp, the palace where abide949 words
  18. 18.Act III: The wedding festivities are described in the brilliant1,799 words
  19. 19.Introduction6,742 words
  20. 20.Act I: In the introduction to "The Rhinegold," we saw the Rhine3,579 words
  21. 21.Act II: In the Vorspiel the orchestra, with an upward rush of the2,602 words
  22. 22.Act III: The third act opens with the famous "Ride of the Valkyrs," a3,346 words
  23. 23.Act II: The second act opens with a darkly portentous Vorspiel. On1,109 words
  24. 24.Act III: The third act opens with a stormy introduction in which the1,765 words
  25. 25.Act I: On the river lies the hall of the Gibichungs, where house1,343 words
  26. 26.Act II: The ominous Motive of the Nibelung's Malevolence introduces1,630 words
  27. 27.Act III: How picturesque the mise-en-scène of this act--a clearing2,606 words
  28. 28.Act I: Wagner wisely refrains from actually placing before us on the1,438 words
  29. 29.Act II: This act also has an introduction, which together with the1,167 words
  30. 30.Act III: The introduction to this act opens with a variation of the3,238 words
  31. 31.Act I: The scene of this act is laid in the Church of St. Catherine,1,056 words
  32. 32.Act II: The scene of this act represents a street in Nuremburg1,695 words
  33. 33.Act III: During this act the tender strain in Sachs's sturdy3,251 words
  34. 34.Act I: One of the sturdiest of the knights, the aged Gurnemanz, grey2,187 words
  35. 35.Act II: This act plays in Klingsor's magic castle and garden. The974 words
  36. 36.Act III: Not until after long wanderings through the wilderness,1,580 words
  37. 37.Act I: , Scene 1. A street by Dr. Bartolo's house. Count Almaviva, a449 words
  38. 38.Act II: The Count again enters Bartolo's house. He is now4,684 words
  39. 39.Act III: The market-place in Altdorf. It is the hundredth anniversary1,355 words
  40. 40.Act I: The village green. On one side an inn. In the background a391 words
  41. 41.Act II: Rodolpho's sleeping apartment at the inn. He enters,431 words
  42. 42.Act III: , Scene 1. A shady valley between the village and the castle984 words
  43. 43.Act I: Sacred grove of the Druids. The high priest Oroveso comes312 words
  44. 44.Act II: Norma, filled with despair, is beside the cradle of her694 words
  45. 45.Act I: is laid in a fortress near Plymouth, held by Lord Walton for246 words
  46. 46.Act III: is laid in a grove near the fortress. Arthur, although896 words
  47. 47.Act I: Beauty and riches have made the young peasant woman, Adina,227 words
  48. 48.Act II: The village is assembled on Adina's farm to celebrate her500 words
  49. 49.Act II: , which shows a room in Adina's farmhouse, opens with a bright936 words
  50. 50.Act I: A public place in Ferrara. On one side a palace. Alfonso,310 words
  51. 51.Act II: is laid in the Negroni palace, and is the scene of the banquet,1,263 words
  52. 52.Act II: Apartment in the Castle of Lammermoor. "Il pallor funesto,338 words
  53. 53.Act III: The first scene is laid in Edgar's gloomy castle, whither1,367 words
  54. 54.Act I: A passage in the Tyrolese mountains. On the right is a cottage,584 words
  55. 55.Act II: In the castle of the Marquise. Marie is learning to dance578 words
  56. 56.Act I: The interior of the monastery. Ferdinand makes known to577 words
  57. 57.Act II: Gardens of the Palace of the Alcazar. Ferdinand's dream of387 words
  58. 58.Act III: A salon in the Palace of the Alcazar. In a brief scene the660 words
  59. 59.Act IV: The cloisters of the Monastery of St. James. Ceremony of502 words
  60. 60.Act I: The village of Chamounix. On one side a farmhouse. On an414 words
  61. 61.Act II: Room in a handsome, well-furnished apartment in Paris. This590 words
  62. 62.Act III: The village of Chamounix. The Savoyards are returning and are706 words
  63. 63.Act III: is in two scenes, the first in Don Pasquale's house, where2,162 words
  64. 64.Act II: Grand hall in Silva's castle. Doors lead to various403 words
  65. 65.Act III: The scene is a sepulchral vault, enclosing the tomb of271 words
  66. 66.Act IV: , on the terrace of Ernani's castle, is brief, and there is1,381 words
  67. 67.Act I: opens in a salon in the Duke's palace. A suite of other1,436 words
  68. 68.Act II: has its scene laid in the ducal palace. This salon has large3,020 words
  69. 69.Act I: Atrium of the palace of Aliaferia, with a door leading to the489 words
  70. 70.Act II: An encampment of gypsies. There is a ruined house at the foot755 words
  71. 71.Act III: The camp of Count di Luna, who is laying siege to757 words
  72. 72.Act IV: Manrico's sortie to rescue his supposed mother failed. His1,197 words
  73. 73.Act I: A salon in the house of Violetta. In the back scene is a472 words
  74. 74.Act II: Salon on the ground floor of a country house near Paris,1,135 words
  75. 75.Act III: Violetta's bedroom. At the back is a bed with the curtains1,740 words
  76. 76.Act I: Reception hall in the Governor's house. Richard, Earl of449 words
  77. 77.Act III: A study in Reinhart's dwelling. For the disgrace he has3,412 words
  78. 78.Act I: Scene 1. After a very brief prelude, the curtain rises on a1,105 words
  79. 79.Act II: Scene 1. In this scene, which takes place in a hall in the1,656 words
  80. 80.Act III: That tragedy further advances toward its consummation in the1,037 words
  81. 81.Act IV: Scene 1. In a hall of the Royal Palace Amneris awaits the990 words
  82. 82.Act I: In the background a quay and the sea; a tavern with an arbour;249 words
  83. 83.Act II: A hall on the ground floor of the castle. Iago, planning to451 words
  84. 84.Act III: The great hall of the castle. At the back a terrace. After a455 words
  85. 85.Act IV: The scene is Desdemona's bedchamber. There is an orchestral2,825 words
  86. 86.Part II: of Goethe's drama, the main thread of the action suddenly248 words
  87. 87.Act I: The drama opens on Easter Sunday, at Frankfort-on-the-Main497 words
  88. 88.Act III: The scene is a prison. Margaret lies extended upon a heap228 words
  89. 89.Act IV: Mefistofele takes Faust to the shores of the Vale of1,325 words
  90. 90.Act I: "The Lion's Mouth." Grand courtyard of the Ducal palace,847 words
  91. 91.Act II: "The Rosary." Night. A brigantine, showing its starboard side510 words
  92. 92.Act III: "The House of Gold." A room in Alvise's house. Alvise438 words
  93. 93.Act IV: "The Orfano Canal." The vestibule of a ruined palace on the3,940 words
  94. 94.Act I: Touraine. Count de Nevers, one of the leaders of the Catholic325 words
  95. 95.Act II: In the Garden of Chenonçeaux, Queen Marguerite de Valois243 words
  96. 96.Act III: The scene is an open place in Paris before a chapel, where326 words
  97. 97.Act IV: Raoul seeks Valentine, who has become the wife of de238 words
  98. 98.Act V: Covered with blood, Raoul rushes into the ballroom of the1,343 words
  99. 99.Act III: opens with the famous chorus of the Huguenot soldiers in1,115 words
  100. 100.Act I: At the foot of Count Oberthal's castle, near Dordrecht,193 words
  101. 101.Act II: In John's inn at Leyden are the three Anabaptists and a251 words
  102. 102.Act III: In the winter camp of the Anabaptists in a forest of208 words
  103. 103.Act IV: A public place in Münster. The city is in possession of the275 words
  104. 104.Act V: The three Anabaptists, Jonas, Matthisen, and Zacharias,1,436 words
  105. 105.Act I: Lisbon. The Royal Council Chamber of Portugal. Nothing has been283 words
  1. 106.Act II: Vasco has fallen asleep in his cell. Beside him watches520 words
  2. 107.Act V: The gardens of Selika's palace. Again Selika makes a2,446 words
  3. 108.Act I: The carnival of 1532. We are in the house of the Papal195 words
  4. 109.Act II: In the courtyard of a tavern Cellini is seated, with his243 words
  5. 110.Act III: Before Cellini's house, in the background of which, through324 words
  6. 111.Part I: "la Prise De Troie"823 words
  7. 112.Act V: Early morning brings to Dido in her palace the knowledge that1,379 words
  8. 113.Act I: Scene 1. The Lady Harriet yawned. It was dull even at the1,491 words
  9. 114.Act II: The adventure of the Lady Harriet and her maid Nancy, so399 words
  10. 115.Act III: But when morning came the birds had flown the cage. There was693 words
  11. 116.Act IV: Before very long, however, there was a material change in the947 words
  12. 117.Act III: , played in a hunting park in Richmond forest, on the left a1,705 words
  13. 118.Act I: Faust's study. The philosopher is discovered alone, seated at328 words
  14. 119.Act II: Outside of one of the city gates. To the left is an inn,625 words
  15. 120.Act III: Marguerite's garden. At the back a wall with a wicket door909 words
  16. 121.Act IV: The first scene in this act takes place in Marguerite's342 words
  17. 122.Act V: When Gounod revised "Faust" for the Grand Opéra, Paris, the763 words
  18. 123.Act I: The grand hall in the palace of the Capulets. A fête is in304 words
  19. 124.Act II: The garden of the Capulets. The window of Juliet's274 words
  20. 125.Part II: A street near Capulet's house. Stephano, having vainly105 words
  21. 126.Act IV: It is the room of Juliet, to which Romeo has found access,279 words
  22. 127.Act V: The tomb of the Capulets. Romeo, having heard in his exile655 words
  23. 128.Act I: Courtyard of a German inn. Chorus of townspeople and348 words
  24. 129.Act II: Filina's boudoir at the castle. The actress sings of her526 words
  25. 130.Act III: Gallery in an Italian castle, to which Wilhelm has brought876 words
  26. 131.Act I: A square in Seville. On the right the gate of a cigarette1,398 words
  27. 132.Act II: The tavern of Lillas Pastia. Benches right and left. Towards690 words
  28. 133.Act III: A rocky and picturesque spot among rocks on a mountain. At1,073 words
  29. 134.Act IV: A square in Seville. At the back the entrance to the arena. It5,639 words
  30. 135.Act III: At home again Fritz finds no peace. David tells him165 words
  31. 136.Act I: The home of Iris near the city. The hour is before dawn. The217 words
  32. 137.Act II: Interior of the "Green House" in the Yoshiwara. Iris191 words
  33. 138.Act III: Ragpickers and scavengers are dragging the sewer before2,083 words
  34. 139.Act I: The edge of the village of Montalto, Calabria. People are1,116 words
  35. 140.Act II: The scene is the same as that of the preceding act. Tonio1,964 words
  36. 141.Act I: plays in front of an inn at Amiens. Edmund has a solo with633 words
  37. 142.Act IV: "A vast plain on the borders of the territory of New Orleans299 words
  38. 143.Act I: The garret in the Latin Quarter, where live the inseparable951 words
  39. 144.Act II: A meeting of streets, where they form a square, with shops of568 words
  40. 145.Act III: A gate to the city of Paris on the Orleans road. A toll house374 words
  41. 146.Act IV: The scene is again the attic of the four Bohemians. Rudolph504 words
  42. 147.Act I: The church of Sant'Andrea della Valle. To the right the1,327 words
  43. 148.Act II: The Farnese Palace. Scarpia's apartments on an upper floor1,452 words
  44. 149.Act III: A platform of the Castle Sant'Angelo. Left, a casement with a770 words
  45. 150.Act I: There is a prelude, based on a Japanese theme. This theme runs1,049 words
  46. 151.Act II: Part I. Three years have elapsed. It is a long time since646 words
  47. 152.Act II: Part II. When the curtain rises, night has passed, dawn is2,708 words
  48. 153.Act I: The scene is a court in the house of the Polentani, in Ravenna,279 words
  49. 154.Act II: The scene is the interior of a round tower in the fortified205 words
  50. 155.Act III: The scene is the beautiful apartment of Francesca, where,191 words
  51. 156.Act IV: This act is divided into two parts. The scene of the first1,740 words
  52. 157.Act I: The scene is a spacious hall open to a terrace. A lantern825 words
  53. 158.Act II: The scene is a circular terrace on the high castle walls. A523 words
  54. 159.Act III: The crypt of the castle, where Fiora lies upon her bier831 words
  55. 160.Act I: A small square in Naples, near the sea. Carmela's house,712 words
  56. 161.Act II: The garden of Carmela's house. On the left wall a wooden470 words
  57. 162.Act III: A haunt of the Camorrists on the outskirts of Naples. On the553 words
  58. 163.Act I: , in the Friendship Club, and later in Ottavio's home; Act II, in1,271 words
  59. 164.Act II: The drawing-room of the Château de Compiègne. The Empire has293 words
  60. 165.Act III: Cabinet of the Emperor. There is a brief scene between230 words
  61. 166.Act IV: The scene is the same, but it is far into the night. The629 words
  62. 167.Act IV: Prison of Lazare at midnight. Madeleine enters to Chénier716 words
  63. 168.Act IV: Mateo is desperate. Conchita comes to his home and says453 words
  64. 169.Act III: Crispino, overbearing since his good fortune, has built a388 words
  65. 170.Act III: Switzerland. Loris and Fedora are married. Loris's314 words
  66. 171.Act II: Secret Cellar at Koenigsberg. Worms and others plot to798 words
  67. 172.Act I: Before the curtain rises we hear of the Philistines at Gaza301 words
  68. 173.Act III: In a dungeon the blinded giant languishes. But more3,329 words
  69. 174.Act I: Courtyard of the inn at Amiens. Guillot and De Brétigny,484 words
  70. 175.Act II: The apartment of Des Grieux and Manon, Rue Vivienne,387 words
  71. 176.Act III: Scene I. The Cours de la Reine, Paris, on the day of a497 words
  72. 177.Act V: , originally given as a second scene to the fourth act. A lonely1,054 words
  73. 178.Act V: A forest. Don Quichotte is dying. He tells Sancho that he995 words
  74. 179.Act II: takes place three months later. Charlotte and Albert are1,275 words
  75. 180.Act I: Scene I. In a forest. Golo while hunting has lost his way283 words
  76. 181.Act II: Scene IV. A fountain in the park. Pelléas and Mélisande228 words
  77. 182.Act III: Scene VII. A tower in the castle. At the window of the tower256 words
  78. 183.Act IV: Scene X. In a room in the castle Pelléas and Mélisande225 words
  79. 184.Act V: Scene XII. A room in the castle. Mélisande lies stretched out267 words
  80. 185.Act I: The throng moves back and forth on the crowded wharf. There are243 words
  81. 186.Act III: shows the feast and the bacchanale at the house of Bacchis765 words
  82. 187.Act III: Same as Act I. The wives are adorning themselves with the2,625 words
  83. 188.Act II: A magnificent room in the cadi's house. What a stirring,868 words
  84. 189.Act IV: Again the scene changes. On the border of the desert stands285 words
  85. 190.Act III: May resolves to be true to Edward. Recognizing him (after1,324 words
  86. 191.Act II: Three years have passed. In the house of the innkeeper1,437 words
  87. 192.Act I: In Säkkingen a great festival is being held, Fridolin's day476 words
  88. 193.Act III: But Damian is not only stupid, he is also a miserable320 words
  89. 194.Act II: Thirty years have elapsed. In the courtyard of a house in349 words
  90. 195.Act II: In the King's bedroom at Versailles the ceremony of the royal262 words
  91. 196.Act III: The earnest man is very quickly drawn in. In the ruined350 words
  92. 197.Act I: This play takes place somewhere and somewhen but begins in a318 words
  93. 198.Act III: In a dungeon sits the bird once so gay. For "dead, dead, dead325 words
  94. 199.Act II: The opportunity for this comes very quickly. As the miller one395 words
  95. 200.Act IV: Now comes the explanation and the punishment of the888 words
  96. 201.Act I: Guntram has been brought up to manhood as pupil of the403 words
  97. 202.Act III: In the gloomy dungeon in which Guntram is awaiting his2,747 words
  98. 203.Act I: Room in the Princess von Werdenberg's palace. Morning. The582 words
  99. 204.Act II: Salon in the house of Herr von Faninal. This lately ennobled447 words
  100. 205.Act III: A room in an inn near Vienna. With the help of Valzacchi1,302 words
  101. 206.Act III: In the meantime, Wenzel has fallen in love with Esmeralda2,334 words
  102. 207.Act I: Eugen Onegin has been called from a wild life of pleasure to315 words
  103. 208.Act II: Tatiana's name-day is being celebrated with a big ball163 words
  104. 209.Act III: Twenty-six years later. Onegin has restlessly wandered over4,341 words
  105. 210.Act I: Interior of the Hôtel de Bourgogne. Act II. "The Poet's Eating8,560 words