First Aid to the Opera-Goer

By Mary Watkins Cushing

"First Aid to the Opera-Goer" serves as a comprehensive and accessible guide for music lovers and theater enthusiasts seeking to deepen their understanding of the operatic arts. This work provides clear and engaging synopses of the most beloved operas in the standard repertoire, offering readers more than just plot summaries. Mary Watkins Cushing delves into the thematic nuances, character motivations, and structural elements that define each musical masterpiece.

Designed to demystify the complex world of opera, the book acts as an essential companion for those attending live performances or listening to recordings. It covers a wide array of works, from the dramatic tragedies of Giuseppe Verdi and Richard Wagner to the lighter comedies of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Gioachino Rossini. By highlighting the cultural and historical significance of these compositions, the author empowers the listener to appreciate the intricate interplay between libretto and score. "First Aid to the Opera-Goer" remains an invaluable resource for anyone looking to navigate the rich, multi-layered experience of the opera house, celebrating the enduring power of vocal music and dramatic storytelling.

This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you may see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work.

This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.

As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1025656458
• ISBN13: 9781025656458
• Release Date: February 2026
• Publisher: Tradd Street Press
• Length: 408 Pages
• Weight: 1.64 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 6.1" x 9.2"