This volume contains the best of Shaw's musical writing, including sections on Glück, Handel, Mozart, Beethoven, Rossini, Verdi, Berlioz, pieces on opera, musical analysis, oratorios, Gilbert and Sullivan, plus a long autobiographical preface, one of Shaw's most self-revealing works. The result is a book of unparalleled brilliance and grace by a writer who, according to W.H. Auden, “was probably the greatest music critic who ever lived.” “For all music collections.” – Library Journal