The Maestro Myth

by Lebrecht, Norman

• ISBN13: 9780806514505
• ISBN10: 0806514507
• Edition: Reprint
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1993-10-01
• Publisher: Citadel Pr

Summary

Nearly ten years after its original publication, The Maestro Myth continues to enthrall readers with its insightful look into the lives and careers of the world's most celebrated conductors. Now updated and including two new chapters, this volume portrays the politics and inflated economics surrounding the podiums of today's international classical music scene, and the obstacles faced by blacks, women, and gays. From Richard Strauss to Herbert von Karajan to Leonard Bernstein to Simon Rattle, The Maesto Myth examines the world of classical music and the mounting crisis in a profession where genuine talent grows ever scarcer. It is a must-have resource for music aficiionados as well as anyone interested in the behind-the-scenes lives of these music masters. Book jacket.

Author Biography

Norman Lebrecht writes on music for the London Sunday Times and contributes to Opera News in New York and other publications

Table of Contents

Introduction The Making of a Myth	1	(12)
The Tears of a Clown	12	(18)
The Composer as conductor; the personal tragedy of Hans von Bulow
Honest Hans and the Magician	30	(13)
Nikisch and Richter
Masters of the House	43	(23)
Mahler and Strauss; Walter, Klemperer and Krauss
Facing the Dictators	66	(32)
Toscanini v Furtwangler; Szell, Reiner and the Soviet system
The Karajan Case	98	(34)
Karajan, Knappertsbusch and Bohm
`A Starving Population and an Absentee Aristocracy'	132	(22)
Koussevitsky to Ozawa; Stokowski, Showbiz and Previn
The Gremlin in the Garden	154	(23)
Beecham v Barbirolli; Kubelik; Solti, Colin Davis and Haitink
Collapse of the Conducting Composer	177	(16)
Bernstein and Boulez
Strange Tales from the Vienna Woods	193	(20)
Bernstein, Maazel and Levine
Formula Uno	213	(18)
Abbado, Muti and Sinopoli, Chailly
The Mavericks	231	(12)
Horenstein, Celibidache, two Kleibers and Tennstedt
Insider Dealing	243	(15)
Mehta, Barenboim and the Kosher nostra
Left Outside	258	(14)
Gays, women, blacks
The Search for a Semi-Conductor	272	(14)
Marriner, Munrow, Hogwood and early music
Where Have All the Conductors Gone?	286	(18)
The bare future: Rattle, Salonen and Welser-Most
The Master of Them All?	304	(25)
Ronald Wilford and the Millionaire conductor
Appendix Conductors and their Careers	329	(14)
Notes	343	(16)
Acknowledgements	359	(2)
Source List and Bibliography	361	(9)
Index	370