Fred Plotkin is the author of Opera 101: A Complete Guide to Learning and Loving Opera (Hyperion), the standard text in America for learning opera, and is one of the world's foremost experts on this art form. He teaches opera everywhere, including the Metropolitan Opera Guild, the Smithsonian, and NYU. He is equally renowned for his profound knowledge of the food and wine of Italy, and is the author of several classic books, including the recently updated Italy for the Gourmet Traveler (Kyle Books).