Pierre Monteux, Maitre

Rating:
Summary: Outstanding account
Review: A wonderful read, very rich in detail. Informative, delightful, humorous, sad, even inspiring.

Canarina is a very fine writer--no surprise to those of us who swore by his record reviews in the 1980's. Monteux's busy life could easily have degenerated into a series of dates and program listings, but the author's great skill prevents that from happening. He supplies meaningful context, perceptive interpretation of events, and fascinating digressions at all the right moments.

There is plenty of insider information, from the author himself, who knew Monteux and was a student at the Hancock school; from other professionals, conductors, players, librarians, critics and the like; and from members of the Monteux family. And no one is more knowledgeable than Canarina about Monteux's many recordings, their dates and their virtues.

Read it! You won't regret it.

Rating:
Summary: An affectionate portrait of a man who worked with the best
Review: This survey of Monteaux's life tells of a classical musician composer who became famous for conducting the world premiere of Stravinsky's Rite of Spring in Paris in 1913. He conducted its first concert performance and worked with many of the greatest classical composers of his time: this biography creates an affectionate portrait of a man who worked with the best.