Walter Legge: Words and Music (Hardcover)

~ (Author) "We commence by placing the subject of this book in context..." (more)
Key Phrases: double concerts, first clarinet, recording manager, Walter Legge, Sir Thomas, Philharmonia Orchestra (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Walter Legge is the best-known record producer in the history of classical music. From the early 1930s until his death in 1979, Legge held sway over much of the music world. Legge used a remarkable personality, shrewdness, and musical taste to handle such figures as Furtwangler, Callas, Beecham, Sibelius, Britten, Walton, Karajan, and many others. Among the recordings he produced is the first Callas Tosca, often named the greates opera recording of all time.
The first collection of its kind, this volume brings together a number of Legge's reviews and articles on music from the thirties, pieces on Furtwangler conducting Wagner at Bayreuth, Toscanini conducting Die Meistersinger and Falstaff, portraits of Sibelius and Walton, among others, as well as letters to important musicians and artists. A postscript by his wife, Elisabeth Schwartzkopf closes the volume.

About the Author

Alan Sanders is author of Walter Legge: A Discography and co-author of Elisabeth Schwartzkopf: A Career on Record.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 278 pages
• Publisher: Routledge; 1 edition (June 18, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0415921082
• ISBN-13: 978-0415921084
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.2 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #2,241,171 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Words of the producer, August 4, 2000

By	Sergey Sh. (Moscow Russia) - See all my reviews

The title of this book makes for me some misunderstanding: there are many words but generally not about music. These words are about performance practice and recording problems. I think this book is interesting primarily for those who concern performance practice and recording history of 1930-50s by HMV (EMI now). The book contains some Legge's articles from magazines and many letters and telegrams to and from prominent musicians such as Beecham, Furtwangler, Karajan and others. It's a mosaic of impressions, events, thoughts, directives, reminiscences but not a continued story. If you like it you may try this book.