From Library Journal
As one of the outstanding musical scholars of his generation, Taruskin is notable for his regular contributions to the Sunday New York Times as well as to many periodicals, includng the New Republic. His appeal outside the academy is easy to explain: Aside from the sheer brilliance and originality of many of his insights, his lucid and witty prose is a pleaure to read. Here, Taruskin turns his attention to the 19th-century Russian nationalist composer Modest Musorgsky, with particuar emphasis on his vocal music, and the result is a compelling revisionist view. In particular, the received notion of Musorgsky as a rebellious, antiestablishment figure (traceable to his first biographer and highly congenial to Soviet ideology) is shown to be false. Recommended for large music collections.
- E. Gaub, Villa Maria Coll., Buffalo, N.Y.Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.
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Pressestimmen
It takes a critic of Mr. Taruskin's wide sympathies and musical acumen to steer through such rocky artistic and philosophical straits. It is unlikely that this year will see the publication of a more engrossing or more valuable book about music. -- Donald Henahan The New York Times Book Review The merit of Taruskin's essays lies in his clear, highly readable style, which constantly keeps the reader's interest... A major achievement. Opera News Richard Taruskin's ... book reaffirms his position as the pre-eminent American historian of Russian music. He is the scholar who pursues the 'real Musorgsky' with beguiling zest, deep erudition, abiding philology, and thoroughly appropriate irreverence. -- Thomas P. Hodge The New Republic
