Title Page -- Copyright -- Contents -- a Prelude -- SALOME -- Provenance -- Principal Characters -- Brief Story Synopsis -- Story Narrative with Music Highlight Examples -- Commentary and Analysis -- DOCTOR ATOMIC -- Provenance -- Principal Characters -- Libretto Sources -- Highlights from Doctor Atomic -- Commission for Doctor Atomic -- Adams' Music Score -- Productions of Doctor Atomic -- Stage works by composer John Adams -- World War II and the Atomic Bomb -- J. Robert Oppenheimer -- Los Alamos -- "Trinity" bomb test -- Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombs -- Post-war nuclear arms race -- Security hearings -- Final years -- Oppenheimer's legacy -- Final thoughts -- LA DAMNATION DE FAUST -- Provenance -- Principal Characters -- Brief Story Synopsis -- Story Narrative with Music Highlight Examples -- Part I: On a Hungarian plain -- Part II: Germany -- Part III: A view into Marguerite's house -- Part IV: Marguerite's house -- Epilogue -- Commentary and Analysis -- THAIS -- Provenance -- Principal Characters -- Brief Story Synopsis -- Story Narrative with Music Highlight Examples -- Act I - Scene 1: Cenobite huts on the banks of the Nile River -- Act I - Scene 2: The terrace of Nicias' luxurious palace above the city of Alexandria -- Act II - Scene 1: At Thais' house -- Act II - Scene 2: In front of Thais' house -- Act III - Scene 1: The oasis -- Act III - Scene 2: The dwellings of the Cenobites -- Act III - Scene 3: The garden of the convent of the White Nuns -- Commentary and Analysis -- LA RONDINE -- Provenance -- Principal Characters -- Brief Story Synopsis -- Story Narrative with Music Highlight Examples -- Act I: Magda's elegant salon in Paris, circa 1860 -- Act II: At Chez Bullier's -- Act III: A seaside hotel on the French Riviera -- Commentary and Analysis -- ORFEO ED EURIDICE -- Provenance -- Principal Characters -- Brief Story Synopsis.

Story Narrative with Music Highlight Examples -- Act I: The tomb of Euridice -- Act II: Tartarus, a part of Hades reserved for punishment of the wicked -- Act III: A rocky cavern -- Commentary and Analysis -- LUCIA DI LAMMERMOOR -- Provenance -- Principal Characters -- Brief Story Synopsis -- Story Narrative with Music Highlight Examples -- Act I - Scene 1: "The Departure" - The grounds of Ravenswood Castle -- Act I - Scene 2: A park with a fountain at Lammermoor Castle -- Act II - Scene 1: "The Marriage Contract" - Lord Henry Ashton's apartments in Lammermoor Castle -- Act II - Scene 2: The Great Hall in Lammermoor Castle -- Act III - Scene 1: A dilapidated hall in the Ravenswood Castle -- Act III - Scene 2: The Great Hall at the Lammermoor Castle -- Act III - Scene 3: The Tombs of the Ravenswoods -- Commentary and Analysis -- MADAMA BUTTERFLY -- Provenance -- Principal Characters -- Brief Story Synopsis -- Story Narrative with Music Highlight Examples -- Act I: Nagasaki, a house overloooking the harbor -- Act II: The interior of Butterfly's house -- Act III: Butterfly's house -- Commentary and Analysis -- LA SONNAMBULA -- Provenance -- Principal Characters -- Brief Story Synopsis -- Story Narrative with Music Highlight Examples -- Act I - Scene 1: The village green -- Act I - Scene 2: A room in the inn -- Act II - Scene 1: A wood near the village -- Act II - Scene 2: The village near Teresa's mill -- Commentary and Analysis -- LA CENERENTOLA -- Provenance -- Principal Characters -- Brief Story Synopsis -- Story Narrative with Music Highlight Examples -- Act I - Scene 1: A room in the dilapidated castle of the Baron, Don Magnifico -- Act I - Scene 2: A room in Don Ramiro's country house -- Act II - Scene 1: A room in Ron Ramiro's country house -- Act II - Scene 2: A room in Don Magnifico's castle.

Act II - Scene 3: The throne room in Don Ramiro's palace -- Commentary and Analysis.