The Last Days of the Opera Book

The Last Days of the Opera is a powerful anthology exploring opera’s cultural significance, brought together by leading specialists and inspired by Karl Kraus’s The Last Days of Mankind.

Blending essays, reflections and creative responses, the book examines how themes such as nationalism, technology, capitalism and media culture intersect with the evolution of opera. Featuring contributions from major artists, composers, directors and thinkers — including Marina Abramović, George Benjamin, Jonas Kaufmann, William Kentridge, Christian Lacroix, Katie Mitchell, Riccardo Muti and Robert Wilson — this volume offers a concise yet wide‑ranging portrait of opera in the modern world.

Key Features:

• A curated anthology inspired by Karl Kraus’s The Last Days of Mankind
• Contributions from leading figures including Marina Abramović and Jonas Kaufmann
• Explores opera’s relationship with politics, technology and contemporary culture
• Edited by specialists in opera and performance
• Ideal for opera lovers, students and readers of cultural criticism