Synopses & Reviews
A rapturous, witty, and passionate memoir ... Violin Dreams is not only the story of a man becoming an artist, its a history of twentieth-century music.” John Guare, Tony Awardwinning playwright
Arnold Steinhardt, for more than forty years an international soloist and the first violinist of the Guarneri String Quartet, brings warmth, wit, and fascinating insider details to the story of his lifelong obsession with the violin, that most seductive and stunningly beautiful instrument. His story is rich with vivid scenes: the terror inflicted by his early violin teachers, the sensual pleasure involved in the pursuit of the perfect violin, the charged atmosphere of high-level competitions. Steinhardt describes Bachs Chaconne as the holy grail for the solo violin, and he illuminates, from the perspective of an ardent owner of a great Storioni violin, the history and mysteries of the renowned Italian violinmakers.
Violin Dreams includes a remarkable CD recording of Steinhardt performing Bachs Partita in D Minor as a young violinist forty years ago and playing the same piece especially for this book. A conversation between the author and Alan Alda on the differences between the two performances is included in the liner notes.
Review
"Entrancing...There are marvelous stories here...this is a delightful and deeply touching book." --Richard Goode, pianist
Review
"Arnold Steinhardt has written a rapturous, witty and passionate memoir of his life-long search for the perfect violin." --John Guare, playwright
Review
"Entrancing...There are marvelous stories here...this is a delightful and deeply touching book." --Richard Goode, pianist
"My heart soared while I read this book. I actually was moved both to laughter and tears." --Alan Alda
"Arnold Steinhardt has written a rapturous, witty and passionate memoir of his life-long search for the perfect violin." --John Guare, playwright
About the Author
Arnold Steinhardt is the author of Indivisible by Four: A String Quartet in Pursuit of Harmony. He is the first violinist of the acclaimed Guarneri String Quartet and performs as a soloist all over the world.
Table of Contents
1. SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST 1 2. PHOTO GALLERY 15 3. THUMP, THUMP, THUMP, THUMP, THUMP 31 4. VIOLIN 101 47 5. MISCHA, JASCHA, TOSCHA, SASCHA 60 6. MUSIC SCHOOL 88 7. I, VIOLINIST 116 8. A FLYING LEAP 143 9. THE DATING GAME 151 10. TRUE LOVE 171 11. CHACONNE 184 12. A MOST HEAVENLY MUSIC 200 13. THE DANCE OF LIFE AND DEATH 208 14. DANCE FEVER 218 15. CREMONA 232 16. A CONCERT HALL FOR THE GODS 249 EPILOGUE 254