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Too much music, too few wolves:
With no disrespect intended towards the author, I bought this book because I thought it was about wolves. A fraction of it is, but the bulk of this work is a biography of the authors life as a concert pianist. Wolves were not even mentioned until almost 200 pages in. In this regard, I found the book a disappointment. Music lovers, however, should get alot out of it. The cover photo is breathtaking, if not a little misleading.
Interesting Book:
Well-written and insightful, it makes an interesting read. Grimaud is to be congratulated for her personal strength. Discussions about music are slightly unusual but enlightening in view of the academic language that dominates classical music debates today and bores everybody to death. Grimaud makes a case for personal and poetic approach to music discussions. From that point of view, this was a very refreshing book to read. References to animal world and the world of magic and myth make the book even more compelling and intriguing. Pianists will not, however, find too many secrets there about her career or practicing habits. Not even the regular piano world gossip.
Grimaud & Friends:
Helene Grimaud is a wonderful pianist. I enjoy her music and when I saw this book, I tried it, read it, and liked it. At this price it is a great bargain, I think. This is autobiography, and tells how she got out of a frenetic childhood through music, how she met her first wild wolf, and a bit about the sanctuary she made for wolves on her New York farm. Though you learn something about her parents and friends other than the wolves, she is very devoted to them. The book is translated from "Variations sauvages," a best seller in France; it is sometimes mentioned as "Something Wild," instead of "Wild Harmonies," the title in the U.S. Another book of hers that has sold extraordinarily well in France apparently has yet to be translated. She writes with great passion, about her life, her music, her education, her move to the United States, and the wolves. These days about 20,000 youngsters visit her sanctuary every year; and she is helping the federal government with plans to possibly reintroduce wolves in important places they once lived in. What a great thing to do with celebrity, with her determination. Her musicianship is superb also.
Beautiful, energetic and sensitive:
This rising artist has a deep sense and understanding of the various feelings and emotions that Beethoven had in his heart and soul when composing this music that are translated by Grimaud into a very beautiful,sensitive and masterful interpretation of his Piano Concerto No. 5...listening to this performance is truly a wonderful experience.
A little irony:
Atrocious, not the least to say for the poetic foul ups from her admirers. Worth reading, then tossing for Rosalyn Tureck.
| Author: | Helene Grimaud | | Binding: | Hardcover | | Dewey Decimal Number: | 786.2092 | | EAN: | 9781594489273 | | ISBN: | 1594489270 | | Number Of Pages: | 256 | | Publication Date: | 2006-09-07 |
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