The original notion of "dramma per musica" remains valid, as editor Harewood, notes in his Preface. Even as we have the technology to convert the audience en masse to a kind of opening stage of being both behind and afore the countless hand-held digitalizations of instant "experience", the concept of "orchestrated" drama in a box has only become more resonant. As for the classics, we need a "handbuch", such as Kobbe provides.

Kobbe became a music critic of the New York Herald which he performed for 18 years until killed in 1918 when a sea plane struck his sail-boat in South Bay, Long Island. This book was almost completed at the time and was published. In the 1950's, Harewood was asked to bring it up to date, and the process continued through the 1970s.

This work provides a brief biography of the composers and librettists, summarizes the plots and characters, and describes the productions tied in to the staging and musical compositions. While no complete scores or librettoes are provided, the pages are filled with musical motiffs and airs. Drinks all around. ( )