KARL AAGE RASMUSSEN is a Danish composer and writer. He recently retired as professor of composition at the Royal Academy of Music, Aarhus.
"Destiny provided Sviatoslav Richter with a rare combination of
physical and spiritual gifts to make him perhaps the most
outstanding pianist of all time. His ability to identify with
diametrically opposed musical idioms from Bach's to Rachmaninoff's
and from Debussy's to Hindemith's and his never fading and
unstoppable readiness to question and examine himself in relation
to the music he played made him a performer whose range of
repertoire was legendary and whose interpretations were mesmerizing
and unforgettable. The volume of research Mr. Rasmussen compiled
combined with his great attention to detail makes this biography
the most compelling study of the life of one of the greatest
artists of our time."--Vladimir Ashkenazy
"Rasmussen's book is satisfyingly rich in illuminating details. And
being a composer, he brings welcome musical
expertise."--Bloomington Herald Times
"The book demystifies one of the most mysterious figures of modern
music-makers, right down to his practice methods."--The
Well-Tempered Ear
"In this first-ever biography of Richter, Rasmussen paints a
portrait not only of the famous Soviet pianist, but also of
Russian, European, and American cultural life over the course of
the 20th century . . . . The book is written in a readable,
conversational tone that makes it accessible to a wide range of
readers. . . . Recommended."--Choice
"This first biography of the legendary Russian musician (1915-1997)
reveals the man behind the enigma. Many of Richter's colleagues are
quoted and many of his less ingratiating quirks laid bare.
Rasmussen dispels the myths without debunking Richter's
greatness."--Financial Times
"Rasmussen has an obvious affinity for the pantheon of famous
pianists, and although he undertook the project out of his
'fascination with a great pianist, his personality and music' (p.
273), his writing never lapses into hagiography, and the absence of
technical terminology or music examples makes the book approachable
to readers of all backgrounds. Considering that Rasmussen already
has character studies of such musicians as Schumann under his belt,
he is a natural fit to produce this illuminating volume on
Richter."
--Quarterly Journal of the Music Library Association
"For those of us who were privileged to follow Richter's career, to
hear him when he visited the United States, to experience his
artistic development through a series of recordings released over
the years, he remained the performing musician, little more. We may
have wondered from time to time how he managed to travel, seemingly
at ease, from east to west and back, time and again, when not all
artists from the Soviet Union were able to do so. We may have
wondered, but we simply accepted his presence with gratitude
because he could do such wondrous things at the piano. Rasmussen
has filled in the blanks. Who emerges is a man that understood how
to navigate the roiling currents of political intrigues and
realities; that chose not to reveal much of his private self, his
thoughts, beliefs, and motivations, his homosexuality and other
aspects of the off-stage life; even his views about music. Richter
let performance speak for him, even though -- as Rasmussen
discovered -- the pianist lived fully, as fully as possible,
considering the hectic professional schedule he maintained and the
limiting exigencies of the Soviet environment. Rasmussen's book is
satisfyingly rich in illuminating details. And being a composer, he
brings welcome musical expertise."--Bloomington Herald Times
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