A comprehensive history of opera that traces each "milestone" and "metamorphosis" in opera's evolution, featuring in depth analysis of all significant periods: Baroque, Classical, Romantic, Bel Canto, Opera Buffa, German Romanticism, Wagner and music drama, Verismo, and much more. Each opera that represents a "milestone" and "metamorphosis" in opera history is evaluated with Principal Characters in the Opera, Brief Story Syopsis, Story Narrative with Music Highlight Examples, and Burton D. Fisher's insightful and in depth Commentary and Analysis.