Cette série biographique acclamée explore en profondeur la vie et l'œuvre de compositeurs allant de la fin du XVIIe siècle au XXe siècle. Chaque volume offre une vision organique du compositeur, de sa musique et du contexte de sa création. Illustrés et accessibles, ces livres offrent un voyage stimulant dans le monde de la musique classique à tout lecteur intéressé.
Michael Musgrave presents a new focus on Schumann as a practical working musician, building a career and interacting with the professional world. The study emphasizes the value of Schumann's often neglected later works and sees his total achievement as central to emerging musical culture.
The narrative explores the life and achievements of Berlioz, highlighting his status as a preeminent French composer in the nineteenth century. It delves into his innovative musical style, personal struggles, and the cultural context of his time, illustrating how his work influenced the evolution of classical music. Through vivid storytelling, the book captures Berlioz's passion for music and the challenges he faced in gaining recognition for his groundbreaking compositions.
The biography delves into the complex life of Gustav Mahler, portraying him as both a sensitive artist and a demanding figure in his personal and professional relationships. It explores his controversial symphonies and the criticism he faced during his career, revealing the dichotomy between his public persona and private struggles. Through Peter Franklin's insightful narrative, readers gain a deeper understanding of Mahler's character as a conductor and husband, supported by 21 photographs that enhance the exploration of his life and legacy.
This searching biography takes a fresh look at this elusive and misunderstood genius.
Richard Strauss' successful conducting and composing career spanned one of the most fascinating stretches of modern German history, from oil lamps to atomic energy, from a young empire to a divided Germany. This biography covers Strauss' early musical development, his emergence as a tone poet in the late nineteenth century, his turn to the stage at the beginning of the twentieth century, the successes and misfires of the post-World War I era, the turbulent 1930s, and the period of the Second World War and its aftermath.
Focusing on the life of Debussy, the book explores his experiences and influences against the backdrop of his time. It delves into the cultural and historical context that shaped his music, revealing how the era's social and artistic movements impacted his work and legacy. Through detailed analysis, the narrative provides insights into Debussy's creative process and the significance of his contributions to the world of music.
Focusing on the lesser-known facets of Anton Webern's life, this book delves into his youthful instability, dependence on Schoenberg, and naive nationalism, offering a nuanced portrait of the composer. It highlights his unwavering belief in the significance of his concise musical works, providing insight into his unique originality. Accompanied by 20 photographs, the narrative enriches the understanding of Webern's complex character and contributions to music, particularly in the context of his tragic death in 1945.
The narrative explores Beethoven's journey as a groundbreaking composer, delving into his struggles with deafness and personal challenges that shaped his artistry. It highlights his innovative contributions to music, showcasing how his unique experiences influenced his compositions and legacy. The book provides insights into his relationships, the historical context of his work, and the emotional depth that characterizes his music, painting a vivid portrait of a genius who transformed the classical landscape.
An accessible study of the life and works of the twentieth-century composer Olivier Messiaen.
An important 2004 biography of Elgar, drawing on letters and documents which became available in the preceding twenty-five years.
The narrative explores the life of a groundbreaking composer known for their innovative operas, which continue to captivate audiences in theaters around the world. It highlights their creative journey, significant contributions to the world of music, and enduring influence on the operatic genre. Through a blend of biography and analysis, the book celebrates the artistry and legacy of this remarkable figure in the music world.
John Rosselli's biography of Vincenzo Bellini offers a thorough examination of the composer’s life, blending fact and legend to reveal his personality and relationships. It highlights Bellini's remarkable musical talents amidst his brief yet brilliant career in major cities like Naples, Milan, and Paris. The narrative presents a nuanced portrait of a seemingly ordinary young man whose exceptional gifts left a lasting impact on the world of music, complemented by 19 photographs that enhance the exploration of his life and work.
Mozart was not only an extraordinary musical genius but a man who lived through the great change from the old society to the modern one in which we still live, when people began to move from accepting the Christian scheme of things to standing alone, from letting themselves be ruled by parents and superiors to rebelling against them. He was himself one of the 'new men' of the age; his music gives voice to anxieties and consolations that are still ours. This book, first published in 1998, sets Mozart's life within the history of an age plunging into revolution and European war. It probes his crucial relationships with his father and his wife but avoids guesswork. It studies - in depth though in non-technical language - characteristic examples of his music and asks what they can tell us about their author and ourselves.
This is a brief biography of Russia's greatest musical dramatist, Modest Musorgsky (1839-1881), known the world over for his opera Boris Godunov, for his innovative realistic art songs, and for his pianistic work "Pictures at an Exhibition." Yet during his life Musorgsky had no institutional connections, no "degree," no family of his own, not even a permanent address. This book emphasizes the psychological and economic factors that contributed to the composer's remarkable autodidactic rise and tragic, premature end.
Ives' life (1874-1955) spanned two centuries; he grew up in the nineteenth and composed chiefly in the twentieth. His nostalgia for a simpler life in the New England town of his youth is revealed in his frequent musical quotation of songs of that earlier parlor and patriotic songs, hymns and gospel music that he learned from his father, a village bandmaster, and the most important influence on his life and music. This book clarifies the complexity of the man and his music--music that is uniquely autobiographical and that itself illuminates the narrative.
Focusing on the intricacies of Haydn's life and career, this biography offers an insightful exploration of the composer's complexities and contradictions. It delves into his musical achievements while also highlighting the personal and professional challenges he faced throughout his extensive career.
Set against the backdrop of a tumultuous era in German history, this biography explores the life and career of Richard Strauss, a prominent composer. It delves into his artistic evolution, the impact of political upheavals on his work, and his complex relationships with contemporaries. The narrative highlights Strauss's contributions to music, revealing how he navigated challenges while maintaining his creative vision amidst societal changes. This insightful examination offers a deep understanding of both the artist and the historical context in which he thrived.