Life in Music [Hardcover]

Daniel Barenboim (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 12, 2002

A LIFE IN MUSIC reviews five decades of the rich and uniquely varied musical life of Daniel Barenboim. A child prodigy as a pianist and a virtuoso conductor of symphonies and opera, he has known and worked with many of the most distinguished and exciting musicians of the 20th century, including Rubinstein, Klemperer, Furtwangler, Zubin Mehta, Pierre Boulez, Fischer-Dieskau, Pablo Casals and not least his own wife Jacqueline du Pre, among many others. He still insists on undertaking grand projects that only a madman or genius would contemplate', The Times noted in August 2001, and recent years have included his work at the annual Wagner Festival in Bayreuth; his involvement with the rebirth of the State Opera House in Berlin; taking over from George Solti's 22-year reign in Chicago; his summer festivals at Weimar in Germany where young Arab and Israelis can play music together; and his worldwide travels. He gives us his trenchant thoughts on Israel today, the problems facing young musicians and the changing world of music at the beginning of the 21st century.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Serial ran in THE GUARDIAN on 6 September, and we have set a press date of 21 September. Daniel Barenboim will be in London on Tuesday 26 November and wewill be arranging one interview with him and he will also be signing some copies for Hatchards. Our first review in THE DAILY TELEGRAPH by the critic andenthusiast Rupert Christiansen is excellent: "This is a highly stimulating book... a repository of wisdom, as rich in insight into great individuals whomBarenboim has encountered as it is in more general reflections on his art...his unshakeable integrity is hugely impressive, and there can be few books by performing artists that are so illuminating." Reviews and coverage in the mu

About the Author

Daniel Barenboim was born in Buenos Aires in 1942 and made his piano debut there at the age of seven. His family moved to Israel in 1952. From the age of 14 he was malking appearances in London and across Europe and then all over the world. In 1967 he married the cellist Jacqueline du Pre (who died in 1987). In 1988 he married Elena Bashkirova. He was music director of the Paris Orchestra 1975-88, and he has been Music Director of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra since 1991 and of the Berlin State Opera since 1992. Between international travels he divides his time between Berlin and Chicago.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 256 pages
• Publisher: Weidenfeld & Nicolson; 2nd edition (September 12, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0297646494
• ISBN-13: 978-0297646495
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.2 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Valuable insights into music making by the master pianist and conductor, March 3, 2008

By 

Juan Lleras "Juan Manuel LLeras" (Bogotá, Colombia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

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This review is from: A Life in Music (Hardcover)

Daniel Barenboim has been in the front row of the best musicians of the last quarter of the XX century and the beginning of the XXI. This book not only reflect his 'memoires' as a child prodigy, but his parallel upbringing as a pianist and conductor.

But the most interesting parts in this book are the analysis of music by Barenboim. His personal view of the meaning of music and music making make this a delightful document for anyone interested in classical music. This includes his views on harmony, tempo, orchestra balance, expression and many other topics.

Another aspect that I found captivating in this book were the anecdotes and stories of another musicians. The view of Barenboim about other conductors and his reflections on the sound and characteristics of different orchestras is invaluable to any music lover.

And in this document we have also the view of this conductor in the process of setting up operas in different houses, and with different stage directors and singers, which are a bonus to opera lovers, like me.

Finally we have in this book some of Barenboim's concerns about the future of Arab - Israeli relationships and his personal quest to bring some mutual understanding to these peoples. This efforts, which gave life to de West East Divan Orchestra, and earned Barenboim and his friend, the late American - Palestinian author Edward Said, the Prince of Asturias Award for Peace Efforts (Concordia) in 2002.

14 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great memoirs by a wonderful artist and a true humanist, March 4, 2006

By 

MG (Chicago, IL) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Life in Music (Hardcover)

Daniel Barenboim's public position on the israeli-palestinian conflict made him the victim of repeated attacks from the israeli right wing, best exemplified by the previous reviewer. Barenboim's memoirs reflect both the sensitivity of a great artist and the honest political commitment of a true humanist. The accusations against a moderate like Barenboim are a sad reflection of these troubled times.

12 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A brilliant and brave musician and thinker, August 13, 2006

By 

tintintoo (Chicago) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

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This review is from: A Life in Music (Hardcover)

Barenboim embodies a rare combination of qualities: an absolutely first-rate musical talent, a thinking mind, and courage in following his conscience. He deeply understands and has an instinctive feel for music but is also aware that music does not exist in a vacuum--it is part of human society and history. I know of no other classical musician who combines the rare qualities Barenboim possesses. I greatly admire his courage in taking unpopular stands. Like his friend Edward Said he is an artist and a lover of music who is not afraid to speak out against injustice.