Among the major changes that swept through the music industry during the mid-nineteenth century, one that has received little attention is how musical performances were managed and directed. Yet this was arguably the most radical change of all: from a loose control shared between the violin-leader, musical director and maestro al cembalo to a system of tight and unified control under a professional conductor-manager. This process brought with it not only baton conducting in its modern form, but also higher standards of training and discipline, a new orchestral lay-out and a more focused rehearsal regime. The resulting rise in standards of performance was arguably the greatest achievement of English music in the otherwise rather barren mid-Victorian period. The key figure in this process was Michael Costa, who built for himself unprecedented contractual powers and used his awesome personal authority to impose reform on the three main institutions of mid-Victorian music: the opera houses, the Philharmonic and the Sacred Harmonic Society. He was a central figure in the battles between the two rival opera houses, between the Philharmonic and the New Philharmonic, and between the venerable Ancient Concerts and the mass festival events of the Sacred Harmonic Society. Costa’s uniquely powerful position in the operatic, symphonic and choral world and the rapidity with which he was forgotten after his death provide a fascinating insight into the politics and changing aesthetics of the Victorian musical world.

How do you go about making important decisions? Do you go with your gut reaction? Do you make Pro vs. Con lists? Do you consider all options then choose the best one? Considering all options and choosing the best one is the definition of good decision making, but it is not a method for how to make good decisions. Maximize your chances to get what you want by making the right decision, every time. Never Be Wrong Again combines over ten years of research with decades of experience in a reader-friendly guide to making better decisions more efficiently. Accomplished business executive, lawyer and bestselling author Michael Costa details a four-point framework for successful decision making that gives readers a proven formula to improve decision-making skills and results immediately. Learn how to tackle major decisions in life and at work, whether to get married, how to invest your money, how to approach medical choices, and best practices for boards of directors. Using a clear blueprint and real life examples, Never Be Wrong Again will help you make any decision better with confidence and consistency, from the boardroom to the kitchen tab;e.Costa's real-life experience as a businessman, consultant and advisor to some of the world's most renowned financial institutions and multinational corporations provided the author a rare look into how and why businesses and people succeed or fail as a result of their decisions. From here, he set out to create a practical formula that would eliminate guesswork and help counter hidden forces that often derail good decision making.

Coaching is an essential skill for leaders. But for most busy, overworked managers, coaching employees is done badly, or not at all. They're just too busy, and it's too hard to change. But what if managers could coach their people in 10 minutes or less? In Michael Bungay Stanier's The Coaching Habit, coaching becomes a regular, informal part of your day so managers and their teams can work less hard and have more impact. Coaching is an art and it's far easier said than done. It takes courage to ask a question rather than offer up advice, provide an answer, or unleash a solution. Giving another person the opportunity to find their own way, make their own mistakes, and create their own wisdom is both brave and vulnerable. It can also mean unlearning our ''fix it'' habits. In this practical and inspiring book, Michael shares seven transformative questions that can make a difference in how we lead and support. And, he guides us through the tricky part - how to take this new information and turn it into habits and a daily practice. -Brené Brown, author of Rising Strong and Daring Greatly Drawing on years of experience training more than 10,000 busy managers from around the globe in practical, everyday coaching skills, Bungay Stanier reveals how to unlock your peoples' potential. He unpacks seven essential coaching questions to demonstrate how---by saying less and asking more--you can develop coaching methods that produce great results. - Get straight to the point in any conversation with The Kickstart Question - Stay on track during any interaction with The AWE Question - Save hours of time for yourself with The Lazy Question, and hours of time for others with The Strategic Question - Get to the heart of any interpersonal or external challenge with The Focus Question and The Foundation Question - Finally, ensure others find your coaching as beneficial as you do with The Learning Question A fresh, innovative take on the traditional how-to manual, the book combines insider information with research based in neuroscience and behavioural economics, together with interactive training tools to turn practical advice into practiced habits. Dynamic question-and-answer sections help identify old habits and kick-start new behaviour, making sure you get the most out of all seven chapters. Witty and conversational, The Coaching Habit takes your work--and your workplace--from good to great.

Once widely regarded as the workers greatest hope for a better world, the ALP today would rather project itself as a responsible manager of Australian capitalism. Labor's Conflict provides an insightful account of the transformations in the Party's policies, performance and structures since its formation. Seasoned political analysts, Tom Bramble and Rick Kuhn offer an incisive appraisal of the Party's successes and failures, betrayals and electoral triumphs in terms of its competing ties with bosses and workers. The early chapters outline diverse approaches to understanding the nature of the Party and then assess the ALP's evolution in response to major social upheavals and events, from the strikes of the 1890s, through two World Wars, the Great Depression, and the post-war boom. The records of the Whitlam, Hawke, Keating, Rudd and Gillard governments are then dissected in detail. The compelling conclusion offers alternatives to the Australian Labor Party, for those interested in progressive change.

Vibrant photos and fascinating text bring Costa Rica's hummingbirds to life. Hummingbirds of Costa Rica features 44 of the 45 species of hummers that inhabit Costa Rica. (The Plain-capped starthroat, the missing species, lives only in the highest treetops. The authors have never encountered one at a height low enough to photograph.) Each bird is depicted in its natural habitat and with the flower with which it naturally associates. Hundreds of detailed close-ups show each bird's unique features and allow the reader to fully appreciate these stunning marvels of nature. Featuring the work of internationally acclaimed nature photographers Michael and Patricia Fogden, this richly illustrated guide covers: Biology Predators The relationship between hummingbirds and flowers Feeding strategies A year in a hummingbird's life Hummingbird site guide. More than 90 plant species -- belonging to 34 families and over 60 genera -- are featured along with the hummers, so Hummingbirds of Costa Rica is also a useful guide to an astonishing diversity of Costa Rican flora. Beautifully detailed photographs bring the exquisite creatures to life, and scientifically accurate and accessible text provides a comprehensive reference to Costa Rica, its hummingbirds and their ecosystem.

The Ancient Egyptians believed in a life after bodily death, as did many other cultures in pre-history. Their sophisticated knowledge of the afterlife compelled them to create houses for the departed souls with enough furnishings to last forever. The basic concept was in book form, and this was copied into pictures and tomb murals that decorated these underground palaces. Since papyrus paper was expensive the tombs were made of stone or mud bricks, and tomb interiors were painted to match the contents of the funerary texts. So if you have such a book, you do not necessarily need a tomb; the dead souls would create their own housing and habitation in the Otherworld by reading about it. If you did not have this book, a tomb would be your home so that your eternal soul would not haunt the living, or demand food and drink offerings from living relatives.With Archaeologists excavating in Egypt for the past 200+ years, numerous tombs have been found there. Some were haunted by the awakened souls detecting the movement of their remains. Some souls returned to Earth in new bodies as people or animals as they did for many centuries. The ancient expression, "To call one's name is to cause them to live again," means "to live again upon being awoken." Life extends beyond bodily activity. Your soul is shaped by your body, and continues to exist long after the body is no longer here. Some souls such as Tutankhamon are hostile to being disturbed, and so every time his remains are moved or touched, bad reactions occur in the world (this is the so-called "Curse" concept).Now you can create your own Egyptian Book of the Dead and be prepared for Eternal Life with style. This guide book will show you a few ways to prepare for your future existence. You do not need to adopt the Egyptian Mythology or religion, as pre-historical people believed in an afterlife long before the invention of bread. All you need to do is follow these ideas correctly. Modern cultures in Asia already have similar ideas as the ancients had, and can find common concepts.

* Pull out map poster - this huge poster shows every area in the game plus, on the back, a flowchart of the games chapters and story lines * Full Walkthrough - Tips for completing every objective and mini-mission. The game is big and the route to success is long, Prima helps players every step of the way, including the new missions for Xbox 360 and the PSP game. * Increase Your Power - Full info on increasing your respect and character class. Respect is very important and Prima knows how to get it.

101 Tips for Winning More Tennis Matches offers an incredible collection of easy to use, understand, and implement (yet powerfully effective!) tips for winning tennis. Includes tips for pre-match, singles and doubles match play, post-match, practice, tournament, and mental/physical preparation. Ideal for players and coaches of all ages and skill levels.