The Maestro Myth: Great Conductors in Pursuit of Power
by Lebrecht, Norman
- Used
- very good
- Hardcover
- first
- Condition
- Very good/very good
- ISBN 10
- 1559721081
- ISBN 13
- 9781559721080
- Seller
-
Silver Spring, Maryland, United States
Item Price
$55.00$41.25
Payment Methods Accepted
About This Item
Carol Publishing Group, 1991. First edition. First printing [stated]. Hardcover. Very good/very good. Sewn binding. Paper over boards. 380 p. Illustrations. Notes. Source List and Bibliography. Index. This is a Birch Lane Press book. "There is no profession which an imposter could enter more easily", wrote the violinist Carl Flesch of conducting. The truth may be that "great conductors" exist primarily because we demand mythical heroes, visible leaders, cultural icons. In this vigorous anatomy of power on the podium, Norman Lebrecht argues that the great conductor's musical purpose is secondary to his commercial necessity. Lebrecht traces the rise of the orchestra conductor from Bulow, Richter and Nikisch in the nineteenth century, when composers abdicated responsibility for directing their increasingly unwieldy scores, to the stars of today, masters of the musical world and the media. Lebrecht contends that the supreme example of the omnipotent conductor was Herbert von Karajan, the richest musician in history. With the aid of previously inaccessible material, he exposes the roots of Karajan's career in the Third Reich and on New York's 57th Street. He reassesses the mercurial Arturo Toscanini, looks behind Sir Thomas Beecham's wit and patrician charm, dissects the myriad legends surrounding Leonard Bernstein and examines the fierce professional rivalry between Riccardo Muti and Claudio Abbado. Portrayed here, too, are the obstacles faced by black, female or openly gay conductors. The author also highlights the phenomenon of the "semi-conductor" in the newly fashionable world of "early music" and lays bare the mounting crisis in a profession where real talent grows ever scarcer--with rare exceptions like Simon Rattle. Finally, he probes the awesome power of Ronald Wilford, who singlehandedly masterminds the careers and fortunes of the world's top conductors through the largest classical music agency, ColumbiaArtists Management Inc. A lively chronicle of individual ambition and achievement, The Maestro Myth delves into conducting's social, psychological, political and economic dynamics. For music lovers who enjoy having their opinions and prejudices challenged, h.
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Details
- Bookseller
- Ground Zero Books (US)
- Bookseller's Inventory #
- 61947
- Title
- The Maestro Myth: Great Conductors in Pursuit of Power
- Author
- Lebrecht, Norman
- Format/Binding
- Hardcover
- Book Condition
- Used - Very good
- Jacket Condition
- very good
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Edition
- First edition. First printing [stated]
- ISBN 10
- 1559721081
- ISBN 13
- 9781559721080
- Publisher
- Carol Publishing Group
- Place of Publication
- New York
- Date Published
- 1991
- Keywords
- Abbado Claudio, Daniel Barenboim, Beethoven, Leonard Bernstein, Pierre Boulez, Furtwangler, Gustav Mahler, Herbert von Karajan, Otto Klemperer, Serge Koussevitsky, Zubin Mehta, Mozart, Riccardo Muti, Nikisch, Seiji Ozawa, Andre Previn, Toscanini, Geo
Terms of Sale
Ground Zero Books
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About the Seller
Ground Zero Books
Biblio member since 2005
Silver Spring, Maryland
About Ground Zero Books
Founded and operated by trained historians, Ground Zero Books, Ltd., has for over 30 years served scholars, collectors, universities, and all who are interested in military and political history.
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Much of our diverse stock is not yet listed on line. If you can't locate the book or other item that you want, please contact us. We may well have it in stock. We welcome your want lists, and encourage you to send them to us.
Glossary
Some terminology that may be used in this description includes:
- First Edition
- In book collecting, the first edition is the earliest published form of a book. A book may have more than one first edition in...
- New
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