Hans von Bülow
A Life for Music

A detailed study of the life of one of the most important and influential musical figures of the nineteenth century.

Kenneth Birkin (Author)

9781107005860, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 7 July 2011

736 pages, 20 b/w illus.
23.6 x 16 x 3.8 cm, 1.28 kg

Drawing upon an extensive selection of rare letters, reviews and memoirs, Kenneth Birkin sets Hans von Bülow's work as a recitalist, chamber-music artist and orchestral conductor at the centre of a disturbed and eventful life. Bülow's Zukunftsmusik advocacy and ruthless criticism of performance standards in Berlin and Munich antagonised a musical 'establishment' nonetheless spellbound by his keyboard and orchestral mastery. Birkin pays particular attention to the Tristan and Meistersinger premieres, Cosima's desertion, the European and American tours and operatic activities in Hamburg and Hanover, as well as Bülow's pedagogic activities and forays into musical journalism. The book makes liberal use of Bülow's correspondence, published and unpublished, which personalises the narrative. Contemporary comments and reviews, translated here for the first time, give the reader an insight into the critical and public reaction. An extensive Appendix records the dates and venues of all Bülow's public appearances, both as pianist and conductor.

Introduction
1. Overture: Dresden, Leipzig, Stuttgart (1830–1848)
2. The student years: Leipzig, Berlin (1848–1850)
3. Decision time: Weimar-Zürich (1850–1851)
4. Weimar apprenticeship (1851–1853)
5. The young virtuoso: Austro-Hungary (1853–1854)
6. Polish interlude (1854–1855)
7. The pedagogue: Berlin I (1855–1857)
8. 'Gallant hotspur': Berlin II (1857–1859)
9. Rebel maturity: Berlin III (1859–1864)
10. The Wagner years: Munich (1864–1869)
11. A new start: Florence (1869–1873)
12. Triumph and betrayal - on tour: England and Russia (1873–1875)
13. Transatlantic adventure (1875–1876)
14. Convalescent interlude (June 1876–September 1877)
15. Bülow redux: Hanover, Glasgow (1877–1878)
16. Kapellmeister in Hanover (1877–1879)
17. Intendant in Meiningen (1880–1885)
18. The Philharmonic years I (1886–1889) Hamburg/Bremen/Berlin
19. The Philharmonic years II (1889–1890) America again/domestic crisis
20. The Philharmonic years III (1890–1892) Hamburg/Berlin
21. The Philharmonic years IV (1892–1894): Finale
Afterword: Bülow and Bayreuth
Appendix: Bülow performance chronology
Select bibliography.

Subject Areas: Individual composers & musicians, specific bands & groups [AVH], Romantic music [c 1830 to c 1900 AVGC5]