"Cape Town Opera (CTO) launches its first book The Art and the Passion - a photographic record capturing some of those special behind-the-scenes glimpses of its productions staged in Cape Town, Malmo and Cardiff during 2009. The Art and the Passion is sponsored by the City of Cape Town's Department of Arts and Culture and is a tangible representation of their support of the arts, and more particularly Cape Town Opera. "Our book pays tribute to all the unsung heroes - the people who play such a huge role in helping to make the magic happen on stage: the technicians, technical crew, make-up artists, production people - everybody behind the scenes as well as the singers, musicians, directors and conductors. The idea is to provide a glimpse into this backstage world that the public does not see." Interspersed with the photos are quotes by the artists, singers and the technical crew about what it is that drives them to do what they do"--Cape Town Opera website.