Old Friends and New Music
“With his erudite-sounding English accent, Justin Avoth ably narrates Nabokov’s memoir…[with] many vignettes of famous Russian composers…He also exhibits an almost insufferable snobbishness and condescension. Avoth’s performance is characterized by clear enunciation, as well as perfect pacing and expression.”
AudioFile
Nicolas Nabokov, a Russian-born composer and cultural diplomat, befriended many of the twentieth century’s greatest musicians and artists.
With delightful anecdotes and personal reflections, his memoir is a truly unique historical document that enriches our understanding of the Cold War’s impact on culture. He describes the strange genius of Diaghilev, for whom he wrote his first successful ballet; the tragic story of Nijinsky; Stravinsky’s music and manners; Koussevitzky’s fight for modern music; the personalities of Prokofiev and Shostakovich.
His wealth of connections and his authority gave him a special perspective on this dynamic period in music and politics. Above all, his “wise and witty” book, as W. H. Auden described it, is a tribute to enduring friendships and music’s transformative power.
Praise