Gr. 3^-5. Like Nichol's
Beethoven Lives Upstairs , this is based on an award-winning cassette and uses a picture-book format and a combination of fact and fiction to introduce a renowned composer. Observations kept by Tchaikovsky during an 1891 tour of America flesh out the view of the Russian composer presented through the diary entries of 11-year-old Eugenia Petroff, whom Tchaikovsky meets during his America travels. Through Eugenia's eyes we discover a quiet, driven musician, plagued by stage fright, who is homesick for his native country yet fascinated by the natural and technological wonders of America. There is neither the comedy nor the bold drama of Nichol's book, which used a vibrant exchange of letters instead of rather sedate journal entries to introduce the characters; yet, a definite sense of Tchaikovsky does come through, and the paintings are splendid. Dramatic, richly colored, and alive with extraordinary, bright highlights, they speak of the elegance of an age gone by and capture the surprise of a young girl who discovers that the genius she holds so in awe is also quite a nice man.
Stephanie Zvirin
-- Dieser Text bezieht sich auf eine vergriffene oder nicht verfügbare Ausgabe dieses Titels.
From School Library Journal
Grade 3-5?A charming tale told in diary form by a wealthy young girl of Russian descent. She is named Eugenia after Tchaikovsky's opera, Eugene Onegin, which her parents adore. They take her to see the composer conduct a performance of his own music at Carnegie Music Hall; several days later, traveling to Niagara Falls, she recognizes him in the train's dining car. She shyly approaches him and they have a glorious conversation. Her diary entries record Tchaikovsky's demeanor, gentle nature, and his loneliness in America. Although the story is fictional, it is historically accurate and captures the tenor of the times. Eugenia's shy and precious character is pleasant and intimate. The oil paintings are absolutely luscious and give the text a rich, formal feeling; the three double-spread illustrations are spectacular. Fine historical fiction that enhances the discovery of a great composer for youngsters.?Barbara Peklo Abrahams, Oneida City Schools, Manlius, NY
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.
-- Dieser Text bezieht sich auf eine vergriffene oder nicht verfügbare Ausgabe dieses Titels.