Opera singers might seem out of place in a era of American Idol and MP3s; however, the tenor’s voice is as much a mainstay of classical music as it is of modern rock, country, and R&B. In his new book The Tenor, John Potter maps the history of the tenor. Starting with the pre-tenors of 12th century to modern crooners like Andrea Bocelli and the “Three Tenors”: Domingo, Carreras, and Pavarotti. Throughout the book, Potter discusses differences in national styles and compositions and provides a witty and comprehensive aural history that allows tenor fans, new and old, to more fully appreciate the beauty and art of the tenor.

Click here for a classic example of a master tenor at work and here for an excerpt of Potter’s prose. Music buffs might also enjoy Mozart’s Operas: A Companion by Mary Hunter, Andrew Lloyd Webber by John Snelson, andA Windfall of Musicians: Hitler’s Émigrés and Exiles in Southern California by Dorothy Lamb Crawford.