For the vast majority of its fans around the world, the experience of listening to classical music has been through recording. Indeed, one of the striking aspects of the past century has been the overwhelming popularization of a form of music previously restricted to particular places and people of wealth. "Maestros, Masterpieces and Madness" is an extraordinarily enjoyable, original and revealing account of how a random alliance of engineers, entrepreneurs, conductors and fixers invented a new medium containing the entire ...
Read More
For the vast majority of its fans around the world, the experience of listening to classical music has been through recording. Indeed, one of the striking aspects of the past century has been the overwhelming popularization of a form of music previously restricted to particular places and people of wealth. "Maestros, Masterpieces and Madness" is an extraordinarily enjoyable, original and revealing account of how a random alliance of engineers, entrepreneurs, conductors and fixers invented a new medium containing the entire back catalogue of Western civilization. The huge array of masterpieces they recorded, now safely digitalized, will last forever. But they also created a mountain of schlock, schmaltz, ego-trips and inconceivably misguided projects. This century of productivity that shaped the minds of millions of people came to an end when the dawn of the internet and the onset of corporate insanity conspired substantially to shut down the industry. Norman Lebrecht compellingly demonstrates that classical recording has reached its end point, but this is not just an expose of decline and fall. It is for the first time, the full story of a minor art form, celebrating the genius of Schnabel, Toscanini, Karajan, Callas, Rattle, Pavarotti and others and the ways that their work has enriched our lives. For the dazzling legacy lives on, even if the means of production has gone. The book ends with a suitable shrine to classical recording: the author's critical selection of the one hundred most important recordings - and the twenty most appalling.
Read Less
Add this copy of Maestros, Masterpieces and Madness: the Secret Life and to cart. $13.07, good condition, Sold by Zoom Books Company rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Lynden, WA, UNITED STATES, published 2008 by Penguin Books.
Choose your shipping method in Checkout. Costs may vary based on destination.
Seller's Description:
Book is in good condition and may contain underlining or highlighting and minimal wear. The book can also include library labels. May not contain miscellaneous items toys dvds etc. We offer 100% money back guarantee and fast customer support.
Add this copy of Maestros, Masterpieces and Madness: the Secret Life and to cart. $14.57, very good condition, Sold by Reuseabook rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Gloucester, GLOS, UNITED KINGDOM, published 2007 by Allen Lane.
Choose your shipping method in Checkout. Costs may vary based on destination.
Seller's Description:
Dispatched, from the UK, within 48 hours of ordering. Though second-hand, the book is still in very good shape. Minimal signs of usage may include very minor creasing on the cover or on the spine.
Add this copy of Maestros, Masterpieces and Madness: The Secret Life and to cart. $24.64, new condition, Sold by Ria Christie Books rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Uxbridge, MIDDLESEX, UNITED KINGDOM, published 2008 by Penguin Books Ltd.
Add this copy of Maestros, Masterpieces and Madness: The Secret Life and to cart. $25.10, new condition, Sold by booksXpress, ships from Bayonne, NJ, UNITED STATES, published 2008 by Penguin Books Ltd.
Add this copy of Maestros, Masterpieces and Madness: The Secret Life and to cart. $29.13, new condition, Sold by Booksplease rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Southport, MERSEYSIDE, UNITED KINGDOM, published 2008 by Penguin Books Ltd.
Add this copy of Maestros, Masterpieces and Madness to cart. $29.71, new condition, Sold by Kennys.ie rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Galway, IRELAND, published 2008 by Penguin Books Ltd.
Choose your shipping method in Checkout. Costs may vary based on destination.
Seller's Description:
New. 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. Num Pages: 352 pages, Illustrations, ports. BIC Classification: AVX. Category: (G) General (US: Trade). Dimension: 197 x 129 x 22. Weight in Grams: 268. 2008. Paperback.....We ship daily from our Bookshop.
Add this copy of Maestros, Masterpieces and Madness: the Secret Life and to cart. $58.57, good condition, Sold by Bonita rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Hialeah, FL, UNITED STATES, published 2008 by Penguin Books.
