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Playing with Fire
The Story of Maria Yudina, Pianist in Stalin's Russia
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Playing with Fire
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?
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Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and
still learning, it may not be perfect - your
feedback is welcome!
Description
The first full biography of the fearless and brilliant Maria Yudina, a legendary pianist who was central to Russian intellectual life
Maria Yudina was no ordinary musician. An incredibly popular pianist, she lived on the fringes of Soviet society and had close friendships with such towering figures as Boris Pasternak, Pavel Florensky, and Mikhail Bakhtin. Legend has it that she was Stalin’s favourite pianist.
Yudina was at the height of her fame during WWII, broadcasting almost daily on the radio, playing concerts for the wounded and troops in hospitals and on submarines, and performing for the inhabitants of besieged Leningrad. By the last years of her life, she had been dismissed for ideological reasons from the three institutions where she taught. And yet, according to Shostakovich, Yudina remained “a special case... The ocean was only knee-deep for her.”
In this engaging biography, Elizabeth Wilson sets Yudina’s extraordinary life within the context of her times, where her musical career is measured against the intense intellectual and religious ferment of the post-revolutionary period and the ensuing years of Soviet repression.
Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?
Playing with Fire by Elizabeth Wilson is widely praised for its meticulous research and engaging storytelling, bringing to light the extraordinary life of Soviet pianist Maria Yudina. Critics celebrate the biography's deep dive into Yudina’s intellectual and musical journey and its vivid portrayal of the cultural landscape of Soviet Russia. The book balances detailed narratives with sensitive insights into Yudina's character, offering a captivating and definitive read on one of the 20th century's most intriguing artists.
Book Details
INFORMATION
ISBN: 9780300253931
Publisher: Yale University Press
Format: Hardback
Date Published: 08 February 2022
Country: United States
Imprint: Yale University Press
Illustration: 16 color illus.
Audience: General / adult
DIMENSIONS
Width: 156.0mm
Height: 235.0mm
Weight: 250g
Pages: 352
About the Author
Elizabeth Wilson is a performer, teacher, and writer. She studied cello at the Moscow Conservatoire with Mstislav Rostropovich and is the author of biographies of Dmitri Shostakovich, Jacqueline du Pre, and Mstislav Rostropovich.
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