Review by Choice Review
One of the most important musicians of his time, conductor, critic, teacher, pianist Hans von Bulow (1830-94) is known today primarily as the man who married Franz Liszt's daughter Cosima, then lost her to his friend and mentor Richard Wagner (with whom she had three children). Using observations and extracts from Bulow's writings and memoirs of Bulow's family and friends, Bitkin creates a fascinating, multidimensional picture of Bulow as a controversial, obdurate, restless, intelligent, enormously talented, easily wounded figure--a man who, even in the face of strong opposition, stuck fiercely to his artistic ideals. Among the most fascinating and useful parts of this book is the nearly 300-page Bulow performance chronology, compiled by Biktin, which demonstrates the astonishing breadth and depth of Bulow's repertoire. This is the second major study of Bulow to be released in two years (the first, Alan Walker's Hans von Bulow: A Life and Times, CH, Apr'10, 47-4322). Experienced readers will want to consume this both for the breadth and depth of detail and to gain a fuller understanding of this giant of the 19th-century musical scene; novices will find Walker's style a bit easier to read. Summing Up: Recommended. Upper-division undergraduates through faculty and professionals; knowledgeable general readers. C. A. Traupman-Carr Moravian College
Copyright American Library Association, used with permission.
Review by Choice Review
