This is perhaps Mr. Krehbiel's most important book. The first seven chapters deal with the earliest operatic performances in New York. Then follows a brilliant account of the first quarter-century of the Metropolitan, 1883-1908. He tells how Abbey's first disastrous Italian season was followed by seven seasons of German Opera under Leopold Damrosch and Stanton, how this was temporarily eclipsed by French and Italian, and then returned to dwell with them in harmony, thanks to Walter Damrosch's brilliant crusade,--also of the burning of the opera house, the vicissitudes of the American Opera Company, the coming and passing of Grau and Conried, and finally the opening of Oscar Hammerstein's Manhattan Opera House and the first two seasons therein, 1906-08. "Presented not only in a readable manner but without bias ... extremely interesting and valuable."--_Nation._ "The illustrations are a true embellishment ... Mr. Krehbiel's style was never more charming. It is a delight."--_Philip Hale in Boston Herald._ "Invaluable for purpose of reference ... rich in critical passages ... all the great singers of the world have been heard here. Most of the great conductors have come to our shores.... Memories of them which serve to humanize, as it were, his analyses of their work."--_New York Tribune._ * * * * * *** If the reader will send his name and address, the publishers will send, from time to time, information regarding their new books. HENRY HOLT AND COMPANY PUBLISHERS NEW YORK End of Project Gutenberg's The Theory of the Theatre, by Clayton Hamilton