David Cairns Livres

No artist's achievement connects more directly with early experience than that of Berlioz. David Cairns draws on a wealth of family papers to recreate in authentic and intimate detail the provincial milieu of Berlioz's boyhood, showing how the son of a village doctor was already transforming himself into the composer of the Fantastic Symphony. Berlioz's desperate attempts to win his father's approval for his vocation, his struggles to establish himself on the Parisian musical scene, and his passionate pursuit of love are all brought vividly to life in this first volume of David Cairns's award-winning biography.

David Cairns's exploration of Mozart's life, coinciding with the 250th anniversary of the composer's birth, offers a unique perspective through his operas. Moving beyond traditional biography, Cairns provides insights into Mozart's creative process, revealing the revolutionary aspects of his music during his time and its enduring brilliance. He chronicles Mozart's journey from a child prodigy to a mature composer, dispelling myths that portray him as a dichotomy of artist and clown; instead, he presents a more human and miraculous figure. The narrative follows the evolution of Mozart's musical style, starting with "Idomeneo," which Cairns identifies as his most romantic and forward-looking opera, commissioned for the Munich Carnival in 1781. It then delves into the trio of comic operas created with Lorenzo Da Ponte—"The Marriage of Figaro," "Don Giovanni," and "Cosi fan tutte"—which showcase his full mastery. Finally, the discussion culminates with "The Magic Flute," regarded as his most complex achievement. Cairns subtly examines the interplay between the operas and his instrumental works, suggesting that a deeper understanding of the operas enriches our appreciation of Mozart's entire artistic legacy.

This book takes an in-depth look at the European Commission’s Erasmus programme. In its current Erasmus+ format, the programme supports international exchange visits among students, trainees, volunteers and academic members of staff with a view to enhancing employability and encouraging intercultural understanding. Against the backdrop of the 30th anniversary of Erasmus, the authors explore the successes of the programme, most prominently the undergraduate exchange programme, as well as areas of on-going development, including the incorporation of short duration mobility projects focused on specific social issues into the initiative. Through integrating perspectives from authors in a number of European countries, all of whom have knowledge regarding various aspects of Erasmus, the book provides insight into the challenges facing the programme as it moves into its fourth decade. Mobility, Education and Employability in the European Union: Inside Erasmus will be of interest to students and scholars from a range of disciplines, including geography, sociology and European politics.