Greetings from Amazon.com Delivers Classical Music Books and Scores Editor, Thomas May FEATURED IN THIS E-MAIL: * Titles of Interest: "Twentieth Century Opera: A Guide" by George Martin and "Shostakovich: A Life Remembered" by Elizabeth Wilson * Coming Soon: "Stravinsky: A Creative Spring: Russia and France, 1882-1934" by Stephen Walsh, "Mozart: A Cultural Biography" by Robert W. Gutman, and "Andrea Bocelli: A Celebration" by Antonia Felix * Digital Download: "Goetterdaemmerung" * New Orchestra and Opera Schedules for the 1999-2000 Season * Amazon.com Presents the Best of the Century TITLES OF INTEREST ****************** "Twentieth Century Opera: A Guide" by George Martin http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0879102756/entertainmentsit In this fourth edition of his book, George Martin begins with six essays, two of which offer general historical overviews; the earlier one shows how World War I was the defining event for the form of opera in this century. He discusses what he sees as the two revolutions in opera (12-tone music and electronic amplification), makes an interesting comparison of religion with psychoanalysis, and touches on the literary quality of opera librettos. The later essay takes on the idea of rock in opera and the waxing importance of stage directors and declares Martin's view of newer operas as a return to "gigantism." These chapters frame four others on specific composers: Puccini, Prokofiev, Stravinsky (whose shorter operas Martin rather persuasively deems "failures"), and Janacek. The bulk of the book offers a chronological series of 90 plot synopses. Martin spends more time on operas likely to be encountered in actual performance and takes the chance of including relatively recent works that have not yet made it into the repertory. He is a refreshingly honest opera companion, quite free with his opinions: he goes so far as to point out places where a first-time listener might be bored--and why. "Shostakovich: A Life Remembered" by Elizabeth Wilson http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0691044651/entertainmentsit This book offers a unique perspective on one of our century's most complex, enigmatic, and controversial geniuses, set in the musical and political context of his time. Author Elizabeth Wilson is well equipped for the task: she is a cellist who studied with Mstislav Rostropovich in Moscow from 1964 to 1971, when her father was British ambassador there. Her book is a compendium of official documents, private letters, diaries, and interviews with Shostakovich's family, friends, and enemies (in Russia and elsewhere), as well as articles written especially for the book. The result is a fascinating, first-hand portrait of Shostakovich the man as husband, widower, father, and friend, and Shostakovich the composer, who--by turns officially reviled and extolled--became a symbol for the suffering of his people. Indomitably creative despite constant fear, repression, bereavement, and debilitating illnesses, his ultimate tragedy was that the political "thaw" came too late for his failing health. Naturally, many of Wilson's respondents are musicians who knew that Shostakovich encoded his music with hidden subtexts to express his secret thoughts. On the other hand, his political statements, written and spoken under duress, were often ambiguous and contradictory, and Wilson quotes both conciliatory and hostile reactions to them. She also cites many testimonials of his spontaneous generosity to friends and colleagues in need. COMING SOON *********** "Stravinsky: A Creative Spring: Russia and France, 1882-1934" by Stephen Walsh http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0679414843/entertainmentsit Already noted for a book on his subject's art, Stephen Walsh is equally illuminating about Igor Stravinsky's turbulent life. This first installment of a projected two-volume work covers the years 1882 to 1934, during which time Walsh shows the composer creating many of his famous works, most notably "The Rite of Spring," whose riotous 1913 premiere announced the arrival of a boldly modern classical music. He follows Stravinsky from his native Russia to Switzerland and France, as well as a 10-week tour of America in 1925. Delving into Russian-language documents seldom consulted by Western scholars, Walsh corrects many factual errors and, more importantly, makes evident the importance of Stravinsky's Russian roots and musical training, which the composer himself often downplayed in later years in order to "cultivate the image of the 'synthetic' international master." He's similarly judicious in evaluating Stravinsky's stormy 20-year association with Serge Diaghilev's Ballets Russes and his seldom-adept juggling of a long-suffering wife and a more sophisticated mistress. Candid about his distaste for some of Stravinsky's behavior and character traits, Walsh never seems nasty: "It is the richest personalities," he reminds us, "who engage us most fully." "Mozart: A Cultural Biography" by Robert W. Gutman http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/015100482X/entertainmentsit Readers who think of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791) as the shrieking vulgarian depicted in Peter Shaffer's hit play (and movie) "Amadeus" will be astonished by the man they meet in this biography by music historian Robert Gutman: "affectionate and generous ... an austere moralist of vital force, incisiveness, and strength of purpose." Without scanting Mozart's often maladroit handling of his patrons or his earthy way with words, Gutman portrays a musical genius who slowly and painfully achieved personal maturity as he emerged from the shadow of his domineering father. The rich cultural life of 18th-century Europe forms a vivid background for Mozart's professional and artistic evolution. And Gutman's descriptions of Mozart's work are models of music writing for the lay reader: they capture the brilliance and beauty of the great composer's art in easily accessible language, as in the analysis of the place of "The Marriage of Figaro" in "a new aesthetic of surging movement ... the vocal and orchestral lines twine, separate, and reunite in confrontation, opposition, and accommodation, an ever-changing, effortless interlacing." The prose delineating Mozart's complex personality is just as full-bodied and perceptive. "Andrea Bocelli: A Celebration" by Antonia Felix http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0312253095/entertainmentsit Pre-order the much-anticipated upcoming biography of Andrea Bocelli, timed for publication along with Bocelli's newest release of classical religious music, "Ave Maria." DIGITAL DOWNLOAD: GOETTERDAEMMERUNG *********************************** When the Bayreuth Festival first reopened after the war in 1951, it was a summer to remember. It produced a truly shattering account of the cataclysmic finale of the "Ring" under Hans Knappertsbusch. This legendary "Goetterdaemmerung," featuring one of the most powerful casts in Bayreuth history, has finally been released. You can download a track and listen to the unbelievable chemistry between Astrid Varnay and Bernd Altenhoff as the lovers Bruennhilde and Siegfried, before the tragedy has run its course. Classical ORCHESTRA AND OPERA SCHEDULES: 1999-2000 SEASON *********************************************** What's playing this season in leading U.S. concert halls and opera houses? Amazon.com's staff of music experts has listed noteworthy concerts and opera season schedules for venues around the country, along with recommended recordings of works being performed in the 1999-2000 season. Classical AMAZON.COM PRESENTS THE BEST OF THE CENTURY ******************************************* As the century comes to a close, Amazon.com takes a look at the landmarks in books, music, and video of the past 100 years. Selected by our editors, our lists take you decade by decade from the turn of the century all the way to the end of the millennium. But don't just take our word for it; cast your vote for the best book, video, and CD in our best-of-the-millennium poll for your chance to win our customers' 300 favorite music, book, and video titles. Music of the century ****** Give the Perfect Gift -- Get the Perfect Gift Does Aunt Ida send polka CDs when you'd prefer pop? Create an Amazon.com Wish List and save everyone the agony of the unwanted gift. Wish list
Clueless as to what to get your Kentucky cousin for Christmas? Send him an e-card and tell him to set up an Amazon.com Wish List so you can easily find and send him his heart's desire. Wish card ****** You'll find more great books, articles, excerpts, and interviews in Amazon.com's Classical Music Books section at Classical
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