At Last, I've Enjoyed an Opera

[Karl Henning]

Did he tone down later editions?

[(poco) Sforzando]

Interesting;  I have that book but don't remember the edition.  I should look at it again.  Thanks.

The second edition toned down some of the more scathing comments from the first. In that respect the original version is more fun.

[PerfectWagnerite]

The second edition toned down some of the more scathing comments from the first. In that respect the original version is more fun.

I forget which edition I read 22 years ago. The edition on Amazon still has some funny remarks like:

Confusion about the worth of an opera is bound to exist when no distinction is made between Orfeo and The Magic Flute on the one hand, and Salome and Turandot on the other.

I completely forgot about this book, yes an absolute must read.

[Mandryka]

I would recommend Joseph Kerman's Opera as Drama as a starting point. It's not "lots of fun," but (though it remains controversial, especially the first edition where Kerman notoriously pilloried Puccini and Strauss) it addresses the essential problems of the genre better than any book I know.

I agree