“These five profiles give the clearest evidence of the central value of David Blum’s writings about music during his all-too-short lifetime. The extraordinary sensitivity that he makes so clear in his conversations with Yo-Yo Ma, Jeffrey Tate, Josef Gingold, Richard Goode, and Birgit Nilsson gives evidence of a passion and a respect for beauty in music and the acknowledgment of the enormous discipline necessary to make a successful career, a career that is not only a few concerts in a period of time, but the dedication of a lifetime to a chosen commitment. I think music lovers and educators everywhere will be fascinated and truly informed by this book, as will anyone who wants to know how the quality of life in our time can be enriched.” -Isaac Stern