To many people opera is an inaccessible, incomprehensible and faintly ridiculous concept, but to others it is a sublime art form: something to live and breathe every day. Whether you are a seasoned opera buff or you find it all rather bewildering, Brian Castles-Onion, one of the greatest living conductors, is the perfect guide to lead you on a fascinating ramble into the exotic depths of Opera-land. During his successful career he has made recital and concert appearances with international stars such as Placido Domingo, Jose Carreras and Kiri Te Kanawa, and along the way has experienced it all: from the glamour of the premiere to the grind of working with rebellious orchestras and bitchy tenors. With a light-hearted charm, he makes sense of many of the world's most famous operas, including Puccini's Tosca, Mozart's The Marriage of Figaro and the celebrated works of Gilbert and Sullivan.