Norman Lebrecht Livres

Beethoven’s life and legacy in 100 recordings

No composer has had a greater influence on the music of the twentieth century than Gustav Mahler. And in Mahler Remembered, Norman Lebrecht, an acknowledged authority on the life and work of the seminal composer, compiles a unique volume that the Birmingham Post called breathtakingly interesting, a collection of what [Mahler's] friends, rivals and enemies said about the inspired . . . man . . . whose symphonies are now played more often than Tchaikovsky's.

In a hundred-year period, a handful of men and women changed the way we see the world. Without Karl Landsteiner there would be no blood transfusions or major surgery. Without Paul Ehrlich, no chemotherapy. Without Siegfried Marcus, no motor car. Without Rosalind Franklin, genetic science would look very different. What do these visionaries have in common? They all had Jewish origins. They all had a gift for thinking in wholly original, even earth-shattering ways. In 1847 the Jewish people made up less than 0.25% of the world's population, and yet they saw what others could not. Starting with the death of Mendelssohn and the birth of political anti-Semitism, Lebrecht takes us through the Jewish experience. The result is a celebration of Jewish genius and contribution

A unique chronicle of the hundred-year period when the Jewish people changed the world - and it changed them

Delightful anecdotes illuminate the personal lives of renowned composers and performers, showcasing their humanity beyond their musical genius. This book offers music lovers an engaging exploration of the lesser-known, relatable aspects of these iconic figures, making it a captivating read for anyone interested in the intersection of music and personal stories.

Exposes the strange truth and sheer brilliance behind the classical music recording industry. This book charts its rise since Caruso's first gramophone bestseller of 1902 and predicts the industry's imminent doom in the face of schmaltzy crossover albums and technology.

In this highly original account of Mahler's life and work, Norman Lebrecht - renowned writer, critic and cultural commentator - explores the Mahler Effect, a phenomenon that reaches deep into unsuspecting lives, altering the self-perceptions of world leaders, finance chiefs and working musicians.

Looks at the rise and fall of the classical music recording industry, from the first notes of Enrico Caruso; to the heyday of Bernstein, Could, Callas, and Karajan; to the industry's collapse in the wake of corporate control and the growth of "crossover," citing the finest one hundred and the worst twenty classical recordings ever made. Original. 30,000 first printing.

Martin Simmonds’ father tells him, “Never trust a musician when he speaks about love.” The advice comes too late. Martin already loves Dovidl Rapoport, an eerily gifted Polish violin prodigy whose parents left him in the Simmonds’s care before they perished in the Holocaust. For a time the two boys are closer than brothers. But on the day he is to make his official debut, Dovidl disappears. Only 40 years later does Martin get his first clue about what happened to him. In this ravishing novel of music and suspense, Norman Lebrecht unravels the strands of love, envy and exploitation that knot geniuses to their admirers. In doing so he also evokes the fragile bubble of Jewish life in prewar London; the fearful carnival of the Blitz, and the gray new world that emerged from its ashes. Bristling with ideas, lambent with feeling, The Song of Names is a masterful work of the imagination.