John Suchet

Well illustrated, informative without it being excessive, and very interesting! From the first Johann Strauss ...a poor boy, who struggled to get into music and became a workaholic, engaging in exhausting and lengthy tours abroad....to his son whom he tried his hardest to PREVENT from taking up music. The son went on to eclipse the father...and his two brothers joined him in the career....though there was much discord between them!
All set against the Austrian royal family (fans of the Younger Strauss)...
Jolly good and accessible read.… (altro)

I would not be surprised to find out that either John Suchet is 250 years old or he has a time machine, as I felt as if he knew Mozart personally whilst reading his completely spellbinding book entitled Mozart: The Man Revealed.

As a regular listener to Classic FM, I look forward to Mozart Mondays as nothing is better at setting you up for the week ahead than the jollity of Mozart's compositions. I always find myself humming or whistling along without even realising it, completely unaware of the stories that lie behind the child prodigy and his famous works.

I have previously read and enjoyed John Suchet's fantastic book on Johann Strauss, but this book goes one step further as we really get to know the young composer through his own words by examining letters that he and his father wrote home whilst on tour. The young Mozart is every bit the precocious child we imagine but he also had the most amazing sense of humour, often without a filter which would place him on the autistic spectrum today.

As well as Mozart's sense of humour, John Suchet's fabulous sense of humour comes through in his writing. I won't spoil the whole book but there is a particular painting of Mozart and his sister, Nannerl, who has the most gigantic hair, that makes me chuckle just thinking about it. Mozart's humour is definitely what we could call 'toilet humour' as he is very rude and just doesn't care less. Listening to his work after reading this book seems to add a new dimension, as I feel as if I can now effortlessly tap into the feelings that are woven into each exceptional piece of music.

An absolute must-read for any classical music fan, where you can really get to know the man behind the music in Mozart: The Man Revealed. It is so authentic and fascinating that it could easily be called Mozart: In His Own Words. Think you know Mozart? Think again!

I chose to read an ARC and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.… (altro)

Ever since watching the Sound of Music as a youngster, I've loved the sound of the waltz and the beauty of Austria. There's no greater composer of the waltz than The Waltz King himself, Johann Strauss. On picking up this book, I was immediately enchanted with the gaiety and exuberance of the Viennese way of life. By interspersing Strauss history with Austrian history it kept my interest throughout, as one would expect from the wonderful John Suchet.

From the introduction of coffee to Vienna following the attempted Turkish siege to the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand that triggered World War I, this is a book that will fascinate anyone with a love of history. The Strauss family history is no less turbulent. I had absolutely no idea that composers such as Strauss went on tour. I was amazed to read that Johann Strauss senior toured Europe and the UK, even playing for Queen Victoria before she was crowned.

It is clear that John Suchet has a love of Strauss. The way some of the pieces are described meant that I could almost hear them in my head whilst I was reading. Some people new to classical music might think that they don't know any of the compositions of Strauss but as soon as you hear them they become instantly recognisable. Strauss does indeed make you happy and you can't help but hum or whistle along, tap your feet and feel the smile light up your face when you listen to Strauss.

Beautifully written with fascinating photographs throughout, this is a must read for anyone with a love of classical music or an interest in the Habsburg empire.

I received this book from the publisher, Elliott & Thompson, in exchange for an honest review.… (altro)

Amazingly gifted man emerging from nowhere to dominate Italian Opera. Very private and somewhat bad tempered. Equally keen on the countryside as on his music, in fact often exasperated by music. Very demanding on soloists and librettists and everyone else, but able to produce the music when given the right score. Knew exactly what he wanted from singers and players. Last librettist, Boito, (Otello and Falstaff) seems to have suited him best. Probably various affairs but pretty well hidden. Lost wife and two kids early in his life. No explanation of his musical method; that's impossible I suppose. Well illustrated short book about the man and his context.… (altro)