Accompanying a BBC television series, this is a narrative record of life behind the scenes and on the stage of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden. It focuses on performances throughout 1993 and 1994, including "Die Meistersinger" with its cast of over 250, Tchaikovsky's "The Sleeping Beauty", the spectacular epic "Aida", and riskier projects such as the ballet "Fanfare", and Trevor Nunn's "Katya Kabanova". The book also looks at the dancers, technicians, musicians, singers and administrators who worked to create these productions.