Inge van Rij's book demonstrates how Berlioz used the sights and sounds of the orchestra to explore other worlds.

With over 1,400 pages of reviews, The Gramophone Classical Music Guide 2012 is the ultimate companion for classical music enthusiasts. Drawn from Gramophone magazine's panel of unrivaled critics, the book arms the reader with reviews of 3,000 recommended classical recordings to suit any taste. Also features an essay on the 1,000 year history of classical music, a guide to downloading, 100 brand new recommended recordings, a suggested basic library and a list of Gramophone's recordings of the year.

In this delightful and now classic narrative, written by the brilliant composer and critic Hector Berlioz, readers are made privy to 25 highly entertaining evenings with a fascinating group of distracted performers.

An exploration of fantastic soundworlds in nineteenth-century France, providing a fresh aesthetic and compositional context for Berlioz and others.