The Social History of Opera. The first and only global social history of the world's most romantic, flamboyant, glamorous and politically influential art-form: opera. From Handel's London to the glamour of the Parisian opera via Venetian carnival, the pages of 'The Gilded Cage' are full of colourful locations and filled with unforgettable characters: larger-than-life divas, mad impresarios, great composers and the ever-obsessive audience.