Book Review ~ Beethoven : The Man Revealed by John Suchet

Elliot & Thompson
13 February 2020
My thanks to the publishers for my copy of this book

✰ Updated 250th Anniversary Edition ✰

You know the music… but do you know the man?

Ludwig van Beethoven is one of the world’s best loved and most influential composers. His life – its dramas, conflicts, loves and losses – is played out in his music.

In this special edition to mark the 250th anniversary of Beethoven’s birth – with a new section featuring his most celebrated pieces – John Suchet shows us the man behind the music. He reveals a difficult and complex character, struggling to continue his profession as musician despite increasing deafness, alienating friends with unprovoked outbursts of anger one moment, overwhelming them with excessive kindness and generosity the next, living in a city in almost constant disarray because of war with France.

This is the real Beethoven, and Suchet brings him faithfully and vividly to life.

What did I think..

Born in Bonn in 1770, Ludwig Van Beethoven would, from a fairly inauspicious start, go to become one of the world's most well loved composers. His musical ability was recognised from an early age and he went on to produce some of our most recognisable pieces of classical music. Beautifully written, John Suchet has, once again, revealed the intricacies of the life behind a fascinating man of music, and includes a comprehensive account of Beethoven's lifestyle and musical legacy in a biography which flows in a very readable way.

For those who have an interest in classical music, this updated anniversary edition about one of the world's finest composers is a real treat and if, like me, you don't know very much about the life and times of classical composers, I am sure that you will this find biography a very readable and fascinating insight into Beethoven's seventeenth century world.

John Suchet is a recognised authority on the composer and shares his in-depth knowledge so generously that, in this 250th anniversary of the great composers's birth, this biography has been a real pleasure to read and enjoy.

About the Author

John Suchet presents Classic FM’s flagship morning programme. His informative style of presentation, coupled with a deep knowledge of classical music, has won a wide spectrum of new listeners to the station. Before turning to classical music, John was one of the UK’s best known television newscasters, regularly presenting ITN’s flagship News at Ten, as well as all other bulletins, over a period of nearly 20 years. John has been honoured for both roles. He is the author of several bestselling composer biographies, including Beethoven: The Man Revealed.

This updated edition of Suchet’s acclaimed biography contains new material, including a detailed guide to Beethoven’s most important compositions, family tree and timeline.

Twitter @JohnSuchet1

@eandtbooks

Review ~ Tchaikovsky:The Man Revealed by John Suchet

Elliot & Thompson
September 2018

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky is one of the most successful composers that Russia has ever produced, but his path to success was not an easy one.

Listening to Tchaikovsky's music, and in particular, his composition for the ballet, Swan Lake, is always such a treat and although I am familiar with his work, and enjoy listening to it playing softly in the background either on Classic FM, or on Spotify, I didn't know much about the man behind the music. As always, this continuation of John Suchet's excellent biographies about the lives of some of the world's greatest composers, is a real delight to read and absorb.

Tchaikovsky:The Man Revealed is an absolute revelation, not just about the composer's musical genius, which the author writes about very knowledgeably, but also about the very troubled man behind the public persona. From Tchaikovsky's early childhood, the relationship he had with his parents and siblings and of his constant struggle with his sexuality, there is no doubt that Tchaikovsky was a deeply troubled soul, so often at odds with a world which didn't understand just what complex demons drove him to behave in the way he did. 

Beautifully written, John Suchet has again revealed the man behind the music in glorious detail, with a wonderful mixture of music and lifestyle, the biography flows in a very readable way. The prose is delightfully unfussy, and as explained in the prologue it doesn't shy away from revealing the sometimes more controversial aspects of Tchaikovsky's rather complicated personal life.

Over this festive period I have really enjoyed reading into this beautifully presented book, enjoying the comprehensive information which constantly reveals something new and fascinating about this enigmatic Russian composer.

About the Author

John Suchet presents Classic FM's flagship morning programme. His informative style of presentation, coupled with a deep knowledge of classical music, has won a wide spectrum of new listeners to the station. Before turning to classical music, John was one of the UK's best known television newscasters, regularly presenting ITN's flagship News at Ten, as well as all other bulletins, over a period of nearly 20 years. John has been honoured for both roles.

Twitter @JohnSuchet1

@eandtbooks

Review ~ Verdi : The Man Revealed by John Suchet

Elliot & Thompson
September 2017

It's always a real treat when one of these sumptuously produced books arrives for me to read and review and to have a glimpse into the life of Guiseppe Verdi, one of the greatest operatic composers , written by one of my favourite Classic FM presenters is, for me, something to really get excited about.

With wonderful glossy pages, this meticulously researched biography is easy to read and wonderfully informative, and  if, like me, you have little knowledge of the life of these great composers...well, to have everything you need to know in one lovely, glossy volume is a wonderful idea. I really enjoyed flipping through the book and reading chapters at whim, always finding something interesting and fascinating to learn about this most complex of individuals.

The author writes with real authority and includes, in this biography, all those snippets of information about Verdi's greatest works which are so important. From Rigoletto to Othello, La Traviata to Aida, all human emotion is to be found within his great catalogue of works, and the author ensures that all these are included and described in a very readable way. I particularly enjoyed reading of Verdi's early life in Italy, and the confusion surrounding his date of birth made me smile. 

Beautifully illustrated, the book is a sumptuous and beautiful journey through the whole of Verdi's very eventful life which I am sure will appeal to music lovers everywhere.

Verdi: The Man Revealed would make a perfect Christmas present for any classical music lover. My copy is definitely one to keep and cherish.

If you enjoy reading about the musical greats, then perhaps consider these composer


 biographies written for Classic FM by John Suchet

Published by Elliot & Thompson

  

About the Author

John Suchet presents Classic FM’s flagship morning programme, from 9am every weekday. His informative style of presentation, coupled with a deep knowledge of classical music, has won a wide spectrum of new listeners to the station. Before turning to classical music, John was one of the UK’s best-known television journalists. As a reporter for ITN he covered world events, including the Iran revolution, the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan and the Philippines revolution. He then became a newscaster, regularly presenting ITN’s flagship News at Ten, as well as all other bulletins, over a period of nearly twenty years.

John has been honoured for both roles. In 1986 he was voted Television Journalist of the Year, in 1996 Television Newscaster of the Year, and in 2008 the Royal Television Society awarded him its highest accolade, a Lifetime Achievement Award. John has been given an honorary degree by his old university, the University of Dundee, and in 2001 the Royal Academy of Music awarded him an Honorary Fellowship in recognition of his work on Beethoven, having written six books on the composer, including the highly acclaimed Beethoven: The Man Revealed (2012). His bestselling biography of the Strauss family, The Last Waltz: The Strauss Dynasty and Vienna, was published in 2015.

My thanks to Alison at Elliot&Thompson for my review copies of these books

Review ~ The Classic FM Musical Treasury by Tim Lihoreau

Elliot & Thompson
9 March 2017

A curious collection of new meanings for old words.

What's it all about ...

There are all sorts of people, events and sounds that exist in the musical world for which there are no words. We have been sadly bereft of a satisfactory way to describe the contortion of a singer’s mouth when reaching for the high notes; the audience member who leaves a concert halfway through the grand finale; or that person who places one finger in their ear and raises their eyes heavenwards when they sing.

What did I think about it...

It's no secret that I love listening to Classic FM, particularly on a Sunday morning when I am preparing my blog posts for the week ahead. So, to have a new musical treasury is a real treat especially as it is written by Classic FM presenter, Tim Lihoreau.

The Classic FM Musical Treasury is a feast for the senses, as not only does it have a delightfully humorous approach to musical facts, there is also the possibility of learning something you never knew you needed to know.  There should always be a word to describe what's happening in music but when that word doesn't exist, well as this book suggest, why not create one...

The treasury is divided into ten sections and spans Performers and their Works, through to, my favourite section, Trivia and Treats. This treasury incorporates, with musical suggestions, to quote the author..."the place names of towns and villages, the suburbs,  hamlets, digs, dens, the quarters and quoins of this beautiful land of ours…”

I was especially heartened to see the name of a village a couple of miles away from Jaffareadstoo mentioned on the very first page. It made me smile and thus set the scene for the rest of this delightful treasury which had me nodding in agreement on more than one occasion and which sent me scurrying through the book to spot other place names I recognised.

For classical music fans this book is definite smorgasbord of different musical meanings which stretch and fire the imagination.

These are just a few of my favourite place names within this musical meandering…

Jolly’s bottom (pg202) Trivia and Treats

Steeple Bumstead (pg37) Performers and Performances

Totley Rise (pg60) Concerts, Festivals and Tours

And my absolute favourite is Buldoo (pg163) Composers and their Works …this definition made me laugh out loud...

'...a faux Scottish work of light music purporting to ‘evoke the sights and sounds of the highlands’ (written ten years ago originally about farming and kept in a bottom drawer ready to be re-branded when the opportunity arose)...'

And one for Jaffa…Cat’s Bank (pg8) Performers and Performances

'...names in a fixer's little black book that can be called on when a diva falls ill..'

If you like random musical quirkiness with a hint of the absurd all melted together with British eccentricity then this book works really well.

Best Read with...A Hamperley of Appleby Parva and a glass or two of Hartsop

About the Author

Tim Lihoreau presents one of the most popular breakfast shows on commercial radio: Classic Fm's More Music Breakfast.

Classic FM
Twitter @Tim Lihoreau

My thanks to Alison  at Elliot & Thompson for this delightful treasury 

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Review ~ Mozart : The Man Revealed by John Suchet

Elliot & Thompson
2016

This is one of those splendid coffee table books that will sit very comfortably just waiting for someone to open it and read its fascinating contents.

I love listening to Classic FM and even though I know which pieces of music I like to listen to, I find that I know very little about the lives of the great composers who wrote the music I love. In these days of quick fix information it's very easy just to search the internet for snippets of information as you need it, but nothing beats the look and feel of a really good biography. Mozart: The Man Revealed by John Suchet is a wonderful glossy biography to immerse yourself in, and as you read on,  the here and now disappears, and you are quietly transported back to a wonderful time of musical soirées in the opulent salons of eighteenth century Europe.

The life of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, from his birth in in Salzburg in January 1756, through to his untimely demise in Prague, aged just thirty five in 1791, is covered in fine detail. Each of the twenty-three chapters which make up the bulk of the work have delightfully descriptive headings, I think my favourites have to be those titles which head chapter 8  “Ass-Bumping in Venice", and the delightfully quirky heading for chapter 10, "Gnagflow Trazom", which I'll let you work out for yourself! John Suchet writes with such warmth and wit about this great composer but isn't afraid to show the man behind the genius, warts and all, which comes across when describing Mozart's rather salacious communication with his nineteen year old cousin, Maria Anna Mozart. I loved the way the biography flowed beautifully and was gilded with an assortment of delightful illustrations and documents which highlight Mozart’s complex and fascinating life.

There is no doubt that Mozart's musical genius continues to enhance our modern world. Whilst reading this lovely book I listened to his Salzburg Symphonies which are simply delightful and which compliment this lovely book to perfection.

Mozart: The Man Revealed would make a perfect Christmas present for the classical music lover in your life or simply as well earned treat.

My copy is definitely one to keep and cherish.

Best Read with ...a cup of richly, aromatic hot chocolate and a generous slice of Apfelstrudel

About the author

John Suchet presents Classic FM’s flagship morning programme, from 9am every weekday. His informative style of presentation, coupled with a deep knowledge of classical music, has won a wide spectrum of new listeners to the station. Before turning to classical music, John was one of the UK’s best-known television journalists. As a reporter for ITN he covered world events, including the Iran revolution, the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan and the Philippines revolution. He then became a newscaster, regularly presenting ITN’s flagship News at Ten, as well as all other bulletins, over a period of nearly twenty years.

John has been honoured for both roles. In 1986 he was voted Television Journalist of the Year, in 1996 Television Newscaster of the Year, and in 2008 the Royal Television Society awarded him its highest accolade, a Lifetime Achievement Award. John has been given an honorary degree by his old university, the University of Dundee, and in 2001 the Royal Academy of Music awarded him an Honorary Fellowship in recognition of his work on Beethoven, having written six books on the composer, including the highly acclaimed Beethoven: The Man Revealed (2012). His bestselling biography of the Strauss family, The Last Waltz: The Strauss Dynasty and Vienna, was published in 2015.

 My thanks Alison Menzies at Elliot & Thompson 

for the opportunity to read and review this book.

~***~

Review ~ The Ultimate Classic FM Hall of Fame....

Elliot & Thompson Ltd
March 2016

The Ultimate Classic FM Hall of Fame celebrates the twentieth anniversary of Classic FM's Hall of Fame and is a fitting tribute to all those who have continued to support this venture since it first aired on our radios back in 1996.

I always have Classic FM playing quietly in the background, it forms the soundtrack to my day as I tap away on my PC, preparing blogs, tweeting or sharing my thoughts on Facebook. However, I'm not greatly knowledgeable about classical music, and sometimes I struggle to remember the details of composers and concertos, so to have an ultimate guide to Classic FM's Hall of Fame is a real treat.

Firstly, the book looks stunning; it’s one that would grace any coffee table with ease, the glossy sumptuousness of the book’s pages are made to be appreciated. However, the book is not just good to look at, it’s also a fascinating and informative read and forms a good introduction to classical music in an easy to understand style, which neither patronises nor over complicates.

Beautifully illustrated throughout with classic CD artwork, the pictures match the content perfectly, and it is obvious that so much thought has gone into the final presentation that it is a credit to the book’s authors and editors, who have collectively made such an effort to make sure that everything is perfect. I loved the ease of discovering snippets of fascinating information and have already made a note to purchase some of the music from the section entitled "25 Recordings You Should Own"...

Over the Easter Bank Holiday, I like thousands of other eager listeners tune into Classic FM to see which music and composers have made it into the current Hall of Fame. This year, thanks to this rather special edition of the The Ultimate Classic FM Hall of Fame, I have learned so much more about classical music and if,  like me, your soul warms to Allegri's Miserere or if you like the soaring majesty of Beethoven then this book is the perfect companion to your easy listening...

Best read with....A plate of English crumpets laden with strawberry conserve and a china teapot of aromatic Earl Grey.... 

Amazon UK

Classic FM

Huge thanks to Alison Menzies at Elliot & Thompson for my review of copy of this lovely book.

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