Ever wondered why most classical music concerts are such stuffy affairs? Had to bluff your way through classical music conversations? Trying to get a handle on music by modern composers? Failed to convince teenagers of the merits of Beethoven or Bach? Or just want an absorbing read about music? This book is an illuminating guide that will be a hit with classical music lovers and those keen to discover more about the subject, written by an accomplished musician, historian, and music writer. Devoid of snobbery, with an engaging, informal feel, How to Hear Classical Music will open readers’ eyes—and ears!—to exciting new sensations.

Davinia Caddy has a PhD in music from Cambridge University, carried out her postdoctoral research at Oxford, and is a senior lecturer at the University of Auckland’s School of Music, where her specialty is 20th-century and contemporary musical culture. She has held awards from the British Academy, Music & Letters Trust, and Scouloudi Historical Foundation.