';A vivid portrait of life at the top of a podium heap[a] fascinating memoir a must-read for all who would gain insights into what makes a dedicated and complicated man of music tick.'--Chicago TribuneFrom a small town in the south of Italy to the pinnacle of the classical music world, Riccardo Muti has enthralled audiences across the globe as conductor of the world's most prestigious orchestras and opera houses. Now, after fifty years on the podium, he reflects on an extraordinary career, working with the great artists of his generation. Here, for the first time, he shares the personal anecdotes and revelations of a remarkable life in music.