Anthony Heilbut’s books include Thomas Mann: Eros and Literature and The Fan Who Knew Too Much (just published by Knopf), from which this essay is adapted. Albums he produced have won the Grand Prix du Disque and Grammy Award.

• July/August 2012: The Male Soprano
  A history of the quixotic and nature-defying feats of the men who soar higher than Maria Callas and Mariah Carey