Pierre Bernac was a French baritone and a famous interpreter of the French mélodie. He had a close artistic association with Francis Poulenc, with whom he performed in France and abroad. Poulenc wrote 90 songs especially for him during their 25-year musical partnership. Bernac was well known as a teacher and among the singers who studied with him were Elly Ameling, Grace Bumbry, Mattiwilda Dobbs, Carol Neblett, Jessye Norman and Gérard Souzay. He gave masterclasses in France, Britain and the US.

• Foreword, 1. Performance and Interpretation of Vocal Music, 2. On Singing French, 3. The Interpretation of French Mélodies, 4. Berlioz and Gounod, 5. Franck, Lalo, Saint-Saëns, Delibes, Bizet and Massenet, 6. Duparc, 7. Chabrier, 8. Chausson, 9. Fauré, 10. Debussy, 11. Satie and Caplet, 12. Roussel, 13. Ravel, 14. Poulenc15. Other Composers, Index of Titles, Index of First Lines, Index of Composers

'No voice teacher, no coach, no accompanist, no singer, and for that matter, no music-lover should be without this publication . . . from a man whose knowledge of this repertoire is so complete and profound as to make his treatment of it definitive and without equal.' - Notes