Toscanini

By Harvey Sachs

Book Overview

Arturo Toscanini (1867-1957) is the most famous operatic and symphonic conductor in history. When Harvey Sachs' Reflections on Toscanini was first published in 1978, it was acclaimed internationally as the definitive biography of the extraordinary maestro. Now Sachs has revised and expanded this classic book, further exploring the conductor's controversial musicianship, conducting, recordings, drastic rehearsal methods, and influence on repertory.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0397013205
• ISBN13: 9780397013203
• Release Date: January 1978
• Publisher: J.B. Lippincott Co.
• Length: 380 Pages
• Weight: 1.90 lbs.

Customer Reviews

Great biography

I'm a huge Harvey Sachs fan. This biography is clear eyed, immaculately researched, arrestingly written and in general, brilliantly executed. Harvey Sachs is THE MAN.

An excellent biography of Toscanini.

Toscanini has been the subject of several biographies. Those that focus primarily on his life (George Marek's book, now out of print comes to mind) tended toward uncritical idolatry and provided little, if any, original research. Other books, by Charles Marsh and B.H. Haggin, are primarily studies of Toscanini performances, and not biographies per se. Sachs's book is the first to combine traditional biographical techniqes with an evaluation of Toscanini's art. What emerges is a well-written work that provides a full portrait of Toscanini, warts and all. As balanced as it is, the book nonetheless conveys the author's love of his subject. Also, the author's music background brings to life many details of Toscanini performances in a way that nonmusicians will enjoy.