This text is now in its sixth edition. It has been thoroughly revised and expanded and the additional entries, of which there are over 500, include musical instruments, recent compositions, new composers and rising stars of the opera world. There is also a new subject area - classic musicals and their composers. The book covers opera and ballet as well as orchestral, solo, choral and chamber music. Detailed entries include performers working today, composers and their works, instruments of every kind, musical terms and genres, orchestras, performers and conductors, and authors whose work has inspired musical composition.