In this informed and indispensable guide, National Public Radio's Ted Libbey takes you by the hand through the classical repertory and helps you build a core collection. Not just another rating book, this is an expert's lively appreciation-work by work-of the symphonies, concertos, chamber pieces, keyboard works, sacred works, and operas that belong in every music-lover's library. Where do you start with Berlioz? If you love Schubert's "Trout" Quintet, what about his sonatas? "Cosi fan tutte" or "The Marriage of Figaro?" Webern or Vaughn Williams? And which of Beethoven's 16 string quartets should you not live without? Moreover, the author's discriminating picks of the best performers, performances, and recordings for each work-all on CD-will get you started immediately.