Customer Reviews

Stravinsky: A Creative Spring, Russia and France 1882-1934: v. 1 (Pimlico)

5 star:		(3)
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3 star:		(1)
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Stravinsky was a fine composer who contributed to the development of modernism in art, but little about his personal life reveals his background. This biographical sketch evaluates both his music and his art, examining his contributions with a critical eye to revealing how his past influenced his creations and eventually his world. An excellent, in-depth critical profile evolves.

Being a former concert pianist in training, I am extremely interested in 20th Century music. Stravinsky is one of my favorite composers. I looked forward to reading this biography; however, it was a little dry. It is extremely detailed, which should please any music historian, but my complaint is that it did not adequately address the premiere of The Rite of Spring in Paris. The Paris crowd rioted and Stravinsky walked the streets in gloom afterward (which I learned in college - not from this book). I have always thought that was an interesting event and would have liked more detail from the author, who appeared to think it was insignificant, while addressing every tiny detail of Stravinsky's personal life, squabbles over money, minor compositions, etc. I give it a C+.

I love Stravinsky's music but this biography has so much minutely detailed information about Stravinsky's works that it was very difficult for the author to maintain the narrative's flow. Somebody warned me of this but the same was said about Richard Buckle's biography of Diaghilev (which I think is one of the greatest biographies ever written) so I went ahead and started reading this book anyway. I quit about half way through. Like a dictionary, this book may be good to consult if you want a particular piece of information about Stravinsky but reading it from cover to cover is a hard slog.

Stephen Walsh has done a job of research that boggles the mind. Revelations on every page about an elusive composer who projected so many personas and opinions he seemed almost a chameleon. Can't wait for Volume two.

This major British musicologist has produced the most significant piece of work on Igor Stravinsky to date. It has changed our views of the man and his work as well of some of his associates. When will the final volume appear?