A powerful and thought provoking memoir from one of the world's most successful orchestral conductors, whose life story, talent and dedication to music is an inspiration to read. A tragic car accident when Welser-Moest was a student shaped both his career and approach to music in the most profound and unexpected way, while the book documents an insider's view of the complex relationships between an opera house, its orchestra, the conductor and singers, and the creative struggle by all these parts to achieve perfection in every performance. Welser-Moest's book was published in Austria in July 2020 and rapidly became a no 1 bestseller. It remains a bestseller in the German language today. This edition will satisfy all lovers of opera and classical music who are English language readers.
| Preface and acknowledgments |
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| Prelude |
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9 | (10) |
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I The teaching of music: On the implicitness of sound |
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19 | (4) |
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23 | (3) |
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Every child in Cleveland: the 100-year plan |
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26 | (6) |
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The passionate teacher: Balduin Sulzer |
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32 | (6) |
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Is music really necessary? |
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38 | (6) |
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44 | (3) |
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Music against a noisy world |
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47 | (12) |
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First Journey Meditative silence |
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55 | (4) |
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II The places of music: On the organisation of sound |
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My years of apprenticeship in London |
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59 | (6) |
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Very grand opera in Zurich |
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65 | (10) |
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Thoughts on director's theatre |
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75 | (8) |
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Wiener "Wahn" (from Richard Wagner) |
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83 | (8) |
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Orchestras as mirrors of the world |
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91 | (16) |
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Second Journey Nature of silence |
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103 | (4) |
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III Markets of music: On the consumption of sound |
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107 | (10) |
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Quiet, please -- Recording |
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117 | (4) |
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Gugelhupf and three-quarter time |
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121 | (4) |
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125 | (12) |
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Third Journey Spirit of silence |
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133 | (4) |
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IV Artists and music: On the production of sound |
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137 | (4) |
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141 | (7) |
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From my workshop I: Beethoven's Ninth |
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148 | (9) |
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From my workshop II: Der Rosenkavalier |
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157 | (8) |
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165 | (10) |
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Fourth Journey Eternity of silence |
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171 | (4) |
| Afterword |
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175 | (3) |
| Index |
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178 | |
For 19 years, Franz Welser-Moest has shaped an unmistakable sound as Music Director of The Cleveland Orchestra in Ohio, with their acclaimed partnership extended to 2027, making him the longest-serving musical leader in the ensembles history. The New York Times has declared Cleveland under Welser-Moests direction to be Americas most brilliant orchestra, praising its virtuosity and elegance of sound.
As a guest conductor, Franz Welser-Moest enjoys a close artistic partnership with the Vienna Philharmonic. He has twice appeared on the podium for their celebrated New Year's Concert. Franz Welser-Moest is also a regular guest at the Salzburg Festival where he has set new standards in the interpretation of the operas of Richard Strauss. He is an Honorary Member of the Gesellschaft der Musikfreunde in Vienna, winner of the Vienna Philharmonics Honorary Ring, and has been awarded the Kilenyi Medal of the Bruckner Society of America as well as the Kennedy Center Gold Medal in the Arts.
