Selected Letters of Berlioz

By Hector Berlioz

Book Overview

Letter writing, by contrast, provided him with a freer outlet for creative expression, and his surviving correspondences number in the thousands. From that extraordinary output Hugh Macdonald has gathered some 500 letters that span the composer's life and chart the course of his artistic career. The first letter, written by a brash fifteen-year-old Berlioz to a group of music publishers, suggests that they bring out his work at their own expense. The last letter, in which Berlioz begs his brother-in-law for money, reveals the once-prodigious composer and writer reduced to a pathetic state of poverty. Dipped into or read straight through, Selected Letters of Berlioz is entertaining and informative reading for any music lover. Translated aptly and colorfully by Roger Nichols, Berlioz's letters blend personal sentiment with deep insight into nineteenth-century thought, providing an entrancing portrait of one of the century's leading artistic figures.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0393332756
• ISBN13: 9780393332759
• Release Date: January 1980
• Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company
• Length: 496 Pages
• Weight: 1.79 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 6.0" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

May prove interesting to Berlioz scholars only.

Mr. MacDonald is well know for his involvment in Berlioz academia, however, I find him very opinonated in how the works are presented, i.e. the Te Deum and his addition to Les Troyens, an extention which I found added little to the opera. It is highly unlikely that he can take liberties with the letters, but what he chooses to include and exclude is relavent. Based on my observation of Mr. MacDonald, these choices may be questionable. Also, my observation of Berlioz acadmeia, Mr. MacDonald is the man in charge, but not the most talented of the group. The book, if it has new material, would be of intrest to Berlioz scholars. As a general selection, I would advise looking at content.