Download or read book First Nights at the Opera written by Thomas Forrest Kelly and published by Yale University Press. This book was released on 2006-05-01 with total page 474 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A renowned music scholar narrates the social history of European opera during its golden age in the 18th and 19th centuries by taking readers behind the scenes at the premiere performances of five extraordinary and influential operas. 88 illustrations.