George Richard MarekReseñas

This is a unique compilation of libretto and story adaptation of "Der Rosenkavalier" by Richard Strauss. The volume includes an amazing adaptation by Anthony Burgess along with Hugo Hofmannsthal's libretto. A true delight for any lover of classic opera.

3/22/22

This was a good read. No bombshells were dropped, but it was an engaging telling of the tale. I have a particular interest in Europe's spiral to destruction in the First World War and the Austro-Hungarian story is critical to the larger tale. The royal couple are a sad story and Elisabeth gives the impression of potential wasted. Worthwhile reading for a history fan, or a casual reader.

An interesting paradox arises frm this book. Even though such incomparable Bach performers as Landowska, Casals, Szigeti, and Schweitzer were in their prime when this book was written, and incomparable scholarship by such as Terry and Boughton had long-since been readily available, the average music-lover's sense of the trus Bach sound, and the spirit behind it, would have to wait another generation before approaching anything like the truth. Even so, this book is a charmer, and is useful in the Johnsonian sense of dictionareis and watches: the best isn't nearly good enough, and the worst is better than nothing.

3940. The Eagles Die: Franz Joseph, Elisabeth, and Their Austria, by George R. Marek (read 28 Sept 2004) This is a 1974 book by an American (who was born in Austria) on a topic which has intrigued me ever since I read on June 24, 1945, Bertita Harding's Golden Fleece: The Story of Franz Joseph & Elizabeth of Austria. I have read such books as The Mayerling Murder, by Victor Wolfson (on Sept 18, 1971), The Secret of Sarajevo, by Hertha Pauli (on 19 Sept 1971), The Road to Mayerling, by Richard Barkelay (on 21 July 1973, and The Lonely Empress, by Joan Haslip (on 5 Mar 1983) . Despite all that reading I found this book full of fascination, though the author is but an amateur historian in areas other than music. Marek is convinced that Rudolph killed his companion and then himself, and he assigns Franz Joseph more responsibility for Austria's stupid actions in July 1914 than do some others.½

4211 Gentle Genius The Story of Felix Mendelssohn, by George R. Marek (read 19 Sep 2006) I think this is the first biography of a musician I have ever read, and I am not sure what led me to read it, though I did enjoy the author's book entitled The Eagles Die: Franz Joseph, Elisabeth, and Their Austria, which I read 28 Sep 2004. Mendelssohn was born Feb 3, 1809 at Hamburg and died Nov 4, 1847 at Leipzig, age 38. The book also includes an interesting account of Felix's grandfather, Moses Mendelssohn, prominent Jewish philosopher. Felix's father had Felix and his sister baptized as Lutherans (but Hitler still destroyed the statue of Mendelssohn in Leipzig). Felix was a prodigy, making his first public appearance at age 9. He was a favorite of Queen Victoria, and visited England 10 times. This is a well-written book and I found it good reading, even though the life was not overly dramatic.½

While the scholarship is not profound, the book is enjoyable to anyone who is interested in the twilight years of the Hapsburgs. The drama and romance are rich; Marek makes the most of these without becoming syrupy.½