From the "greatest opera in the English language," Henry Purcell's Dido and Aeneas (c. 1683-1689); to Ludwig van Beethoven's Symphony No. 7 in A Major (1811-1812), which composer Carl Maria von Weber cited as "evidence that Beethoven had gone mad"; to Richard Strauss's radical and sublime Four Last Songs (1948), Tim Bouverie's charming tour of classical music is an utter delight. The 100 featured pieces—each presented with astute historical context, witty asides, and specific recording suggestions to enjoy (accompanying playlist available on Spotify)—promise to "bring joy, tears, solace, empathy, inspiration, and everything in between."