A picture of a highly creative music critic, notable for his humane
commentary, as well as his promotion of contemporary French and
British music. The music critic Felix Aprahamian (1914-2005) was a
remarkable self-made man whose enormous influence in musical
circles was deeply founded in his practical experience of promoting
music in London, notably British and French composers. Early on he
became interested in the organ and was soon corresponding with the
leading French names of the day - André Marchal, Charles
Tournemire, Maurice Duruflé and the young Olivier Messiaen. In
1933, the nineteen-year-old Aprahamian visited Frederick Delius in
France, and while in Paris, met the aged Charles-Marie Widor. The
surviving diaries, published here complete for the first time,
document these events in detail. During the Second World War he
acted as concert director of the London Philharmonic Orchestra, was
the guiding spirit behind the influential Concerts de Musique
Française and became assistant to Sir Thomas Beecham. After the
liberation of Paris, a wide circle of outstanding French musicians
and composers including Francis Poulenc, Messiaen, Pierre Bernac
and Pierre Fournier became personal friends. Aprahamian made his
name as music critic on The Sunday Times, where from 1948to 1989 he
was required reading. He helped numerous young musicians to develop
their careers and was associated with many musical organizations,
notably the Delius Trust and Society. Prefaced by an illuminating
biography, this collection sheds new light on Aprahamian's life and
work. His diaries and BBC broadcasts uniquely illuminate London
concert life from the 1930s to the 1960s, while his articles on
many composers and musicians - nearly all friends and colleagues -
testify to his promotion of French and British music. Examples of
his record and concert reviews are included, and the book evokes
the almost vanished world of a music criticism both humane and
strict, paying tribute to music's spontaneous and absolute
qualities. It will be of interest to anyone following London
concert life in the twentieth century; British and French music;
writing about Debussy, Poulenc, Messaien and, in particular,Delius;
as well as organ music. LEWIS FOREMAN is a writer on British music
and the editor of The John Ireland Companion (The Boydell Press,
2011) and author of Bax: A Composer and His Times. SUSAN FOREMAN is
author of various books on Whitehall and, together with Lewis
Foreman, London. A Musical Gazetteer (2005).
General
Is the information for this product incomplete, wrong or inappropriate?
Let us know about it.
Does this product have an incorrect or missing image?
Send us a new image.
Is this product missing categories?
Add more categories.
Review This Product
No reviews yet - be the first to create one!
Welcome to Loot.co.za!
Sign in / Register |Wishlists & Gift Vouchers |Help | Advanced search
