Placido Domingo has been one of the greatest stars in the operatic firmament for over a quarter of a century, a man whose combination of vocal, dramatic and musical gifts is probably unmatched in the history of opera. A massive public has learnt to revere his legendary portrayals, while millions all over the world know and love his art through television, film and an immense discography. What the public does not see is the detailed preparation and concentrated hard work that lie behind these towering performances. Now, Daniel Snowman takes us inside the rehearsal room and shows us something of the humour, the pathos, the tensions and the sheer hard work as the clock ticks away and the first night approaches. In a wide-ranging book, Snowman considers Domingo's vocal qualities, the nature and depth of his musicianship, his abilities as an actor and something of the inner motivation that has enabled him to achieve so much for so long.