A 'readable reference book' for anyone who listens to classical music, at concerts, on disc and - especially - on the radio. Every major symphonist, from Haydn to the present, is covered in detail; and though the writing is vigorous and penetrating, the analysis never presupposes any specialist tecnical knowledge. There are around 120 musical examples, while an appendix by Robert Lyton, regular critic of The Gramophone for 30 years, lists over 500 recommended recordings. Among the contributors, each a specialist in his own field, are H C Robbins Landon, well known for his regular TV appearances and many books on Mozart and Haydn; David Brown, the world's leading authority on Tchaikovsky and 19th century Russian music; Richard Osborne, well-known presenter of BBC's Saturday Review , biographer of Rossini and acclaimed writer on Beethoven; and Robert Layton, the book's editor, who is Britain's top authority on Scandinavian music. This book is intended for students and scholars of music; anyone who listens to classical music.

Robert Layton has been a critic for The Gramophone for thirty years and is co-author with Ivan March and Edward Greenfield of the Penguin Guide to Compact Discs, Cassettes, and LPs.