Customer Reviews

Fritz Reiner: A Biography

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Philip Hart has written the most boring biography imaginable of one of the greatest conductors of the twentieth century. He has gone out of his way to ensure that Reiner never comes alive as a person by omitting his private life completely.

The stories that surround Reiner are legendary and too famous to ignore, but Hart ignores them. Reiner's relationships with other musicians, and their feelings about him as a person and a human being will not be found in this so-called biography nor will their assessment of Reiner's place among the conductors of his time. Hart seems to be interested only in his own scholarly thoughts. - Sorry, but I'd rather hear what Heifetz, say, thought of him for example. There are even times when one suspects that if Hart himself did not witness an event, it did not take place. Hart ignores countless events already recounted by others elsewhere and he contributes nothing original from his own research.

Reiner's relationship with family and friends (besides wife Carlotta) are also not in this book. In fact, if biographer Hart wished to disinterest the public in his subject as a human being, he couldn't have done a better job.

One of the greatest musicians of our times deserves better - much better. If Hart were in Reiner's class at Curtis, he'd be sure to get a failing grade. "You have to look behind the notes to get at the music." Hart hasn't.

As an opera and orchestral conductor, Fritz Reiner had few equals and no betters during his lifetime. From his apprenticeship at the Dresden Opera through his decades at Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, the Met and finally Chicago, Reiner displayed a consummate musicianship and technical prowess that were truly awesome to behold. His death in 1963 terminated one of the outstanding conducting careers of the 20th century.

Reiner's greatness as a musician, however, had little in common with Reiner the man. Fritz Reiner was one of the most feared, hated and tyrannical of conductors, and his extraordinary meanspiritedness and pettiness towards his players extended into his private life. In this biography, Philip Hart, who worked with Reiner in Chicago, shows him as a man with few discernable redeeming qualities. A more in-depth psychological portrait of Reiner would have been welcome, though Hart does address what he calls a "deep seated psychological insecurity in his character." Reiner's heinous treatment of his musicians was carried over into his interactions with his wives, his children and his friends. He seems to have been a deeply self-loathing individual who took these feelings out on those around him, but also sublimated these same feelings into his art, with astonishing results.

Hart's biography is a decidedly mixed bag. It is often skimpy and superficial concerning personal matters, but also insightful and generous concerning his musicianship. The value of this biography, however, cannot be understated. Being the only biographical and critical profile of this colossal musician, Hart has done us a great service with this book, despite its obvious shortcomings. Anyone interested in great music or conducting will love this book.

I was growing up during the Chicago Reiner years and profited musically from his extensive RCA discography. Also having spent some time in Cincinnati and now in Pittsburgh, I was aware of Reiners footsteps all over those two orchestras and deighted in the historical detail offered here regarding those formative years. The author may have been too careful to avoid letting his personal experiences with Reiner interfere with an attempt at objective reporting; at no time are we subjected to either hero worship, scornful criticism, or illuminating personal anecdotes. At times I did not need to learn as much as I did about so many specific concerts as the author is pleased to report upon, yet as a broad and detailed investigation of his musical life, the book is highly satisfying. While not digressing too deeply into whatever personal judgements other musicians may feel about Reiner we do get insight into his relationships with management and orchestra boards including the usual political mishaps. Reiners curious opinions and behaviors are described here in sufficient abundance to offer glimpses into the nature of his difficult personal relationships. The book never lets us forget that the primary point of view here is the music and I soaked myself in it with pleasure.

THIS BOOK IS A MUST FOR THOSE WHO LOVE THE CLASSICAL MUSIC OF RICHARD STRAUSS, RICHARD WAGNER AS WELL AS THE GERMAN CLASSICS. A GREAT COLLECTION PIECE FOR THOSE WHO HAVE A CLASSICAL MUSIC BACKGROUND.