This well-constructed introductory book is a companion volume to Waugh's Classical Music: A New Way of Listening, sharing with it a format of many handsome pictures, a time line, basic plots and notes on popular arias and a more than 70-minute compact disc of some of the music discussed in the book.

From Library Journal

These two works take a fresh look at opera the works, singers, composers, and recordings. Both succeed in making opera accessible and interesting for the adult opera newcomer. Avoiding the elitist attitudes sometimes found in books on the subject, the authors rely instead on humor and fresh perspectives to enliven opera as a viable, modern entertainment.