In this book the late musicologist, performer, and writer Robert Donington discusses the workings of symbolism in opera and the importance of staging an opera in keeping with the composer's intentions. His analysis includes scenes and characters from operas by Monteverdi, Mozart, Verdi, Wagner, Bizet, Puccini, Debussy, Strauss, Stravinsky, Berg, Britten, Tippett, and other composers