Recommendations required for music books preferably autobiographies

[Stanfordian]

I have some book tokens from Christmas to use and I’m looking for recommendations please for classical music/opera music books preferably autobiographies or even biographies of opera singers, musicians, conductors etc.

[Richard Tarleton]

Already mentioned on the Christmas Stocking thread , Ian Bostridge's "Schubert's Winter Journey - Anatomy of an Obsession" is (so far) an absorbing read, and Fabers have done a beautiful job, a de luxe product in every way.

[Beef Oven!]

Good evening Stan.

I would recommend:

The Ian Bostriddge book - see post #89 on the 'Lieder and Art Song for Beginners/Intermediates' thread.

And best of all, this....

[Roslynmuse]

Diana McVeagh's biography of Finzi is a fine read; it was decades in preparation, and written with style and eloquence. I spent a couple of days in the summer visiting his (and Gurney's) stamping ground in Gloucestershire, and then Hardy country in Dorset, having been stimulated to do so by reading this book.

[MrGongGong]

Good evening Stan.

I would recommend:

The Ian Bostriddge book - see post #89 on the 'Lieder and Art Song for Beginners/Intermediates' thread.

And best of all, this....

Amazon suggests that "customers who bought this also bought this"

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Mein-Kampf-Adolf-Hitler/dp/817224164X

[Roslynmuse]

The connection's obvious. GF was such a big fan of AH that he expended enormous effort disguising himself as an English country gentleman to conceal his Jewish origins.

Very probably to the greater gain of English music, English poets, and English apple trees

The disguise worked on me for years till I read the Stephen Banfield biographical study. That's one big volume. Does McVeagh add much??

I think Mr GG's post referred to the Wagner volume not the Finzi! It's probably ten years since I read the Banfield - which was excellent too. McVeagh uses Joy Finzi's diaries a great deal. She also refers to Finzi's very real fear of what might follow a German invasion during WWII.

[MrGongGong]

I think Mr GG's post referred to the Wagner volume not the Finzi! It's probably ten years since I read the Banfield - which was excellent too. McVeagh uses Joy Finzi's diaries a great deal. She also refers to Finzi's very real fear of what might follow a German invasion during WWII.

Hey?

My post referred to the Goodall biog (which is why it was underneath it!)

[Roslynmuse]

Hey?

My post referred to the Goodall biog (which is why it was underneath it!)

That's what I said!

[MrGongGong]

That's what I said!

I know, I didn't think of it as a "Wagner volume" though

[Stanfordian]

Thanks very much for the suggestions. They have given me some thoughts especially the Ian Bostridge and Reginald Goodall.

Ideally I am looking for autobiographies in the field of opera. I have read some engaging ones recently namely Renee Fleming and Astrid Varnay plus a biography of Pavarotti by a former agent.

[LeMartinPecheur]

I think Mr GG's post referred to the Wagner volume not the Finzi! It's probably ten years since I read the Banfield - which was excellent too. McVeagh uses Joy Finzi's diaries a great deal. She also refers to Finzi's very real fear of what might follow a German invasion during WWII.

Oh rats, must learn to read proper Post deleted, though still interested to know whether McVeagh adds much to Banfield.

[Roslynmuse]

Oh rats, must learn to read proper Post deleted, though still interested to know whether McVeagh adds much to Banfield.

As I said, it's a while since I read the Banfield; he is more analytical, McVeagh more personal (I think). I don't think there is a lot of new information per se, but maybe that's in the nature of the life under consideration. Well worth reading though.

[Barbirollians]

Amazon suggests that "customers who bought this also bought this"

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Mein-Kampf-Adolf-Hitler/dp/817224164X

An unfortunate picture - Goodall looks as if he could be saluting his idol rather than conducting .

[Beef Oven!]

An unfortunate picture - Goodall looks as if he could be saluting his idol rather than conducting .

Grow up. Such infantile comments.

[peterthekeys]

Diana McVeagh's biography of Finzi is a fine read; it was decades in preparation, and written with style and eloquence. I spent a couple of days in the summer visiting his (and Gurney's) stamping ground in Gloucestershire, and then Hardy country in Dorset, having been stimulated to do so by reading this book.

In 2014, I made a mini-pilgrimage to Twigworth, where Michael Howells and Ivor Gurney are buried next to each other (and Herbert Howells' own ashes were scattered on Michael's grave.) Then I walked up Chosen Hill which is only a few miles away: a lovely place - really carried a sense of what prompted Finzi, Gurney and Howells to write the music they did. (Howells' piano quartet has the dedication: "To the hill at Chosen, and Ivor Gurney who knows it.")