10 DECEMBER 1954, Page 35

More Opera Nights. By Ernest Newman. (Putnam. 42s.)

Mn. NEWMAN'S new book is a successor to Opera Nights and IVagner Nights, and con- tains essays on seventeen operas, of which live are Verdi's. The essays are long, learned, and discursive ; this book is not intended to compete with Kobbe's Complete Opera Book, which was issued by the same pub- lisher .a month or two ago, and which is essentially a work of reference. Mr. New- man's book is intended for the enthusiastic amateur, who wants to know more about the major operas than he can learn, from programme notes or Kobbe, and is prepared to devote some time to study. For such people it makes beguiling reading. N. P. R.