This is a fascinating and comprehensive book of opera ever written. A lot of beautiful pictures. The biding, printing quality is top notch. Like an art. By just looking at this book, you want to go to opera. Only if this book automatically plays the opera when I open each page... However, there is no limitation in your imagination :-) "Easy to understand" explanations - such as "What is bel canto ?". One disappointment is that it is not as complete or detailed. For example, Mozart's unfinished opera, Zaide, was not mentioned at all. But the aria, "Ruhe sanft mein holdes Leben" in the opera is quite famous (and really beautiful), and people like me who want to know about it will be disappointed. Well, this is nitpick. I would consider this book as the one that should be in every music (opera) lover's bookshelf.