“Over the course of many animated conversations, I have learned an awful lot about opera from Robert Levine. I hear his voice throughout this book - erudite, generous, musicianly, almost impossibly well-informed and often hilariously funny.” — Tim Page, Pulitzer Prize-winning music critic and author of Parallel Plays
“I couldn’t imagine a finer or livelier guide through the world of opera than Robert Levine, for newcomers and crazed fans alike. He distills a lifetime of passion and insight into this immensely enjoyable survey, and with the right comic touch to make you wonder how opera ever seemed intimidating.” — Thomas May, author of Decoding Wagner
