Virtuosi : a defense and a (sometimes erotic) celebration of great pianists

Description

"In essays rich with anecdote, Mark Mitchell explores the many domains of the virtuoso, taking on such subjects as music competitions, the phenomenon of the child prodigy, the virtuoso in literature and film, encores, seating habits, and the erotics of musical performance. The characters who populate his evocative narrative include not only such famous virtuosi as Franz Liszt, Martha Argerich, and Vladimir Horowitz but also Ervin Nyiregyhazi ("the skid row pianist"), the eccentric Vladimir de Pachmann, and Liberace."--Jacket.  Read more... The triumph of Marsyas -- Le concert, c'est moi -- The critic and the spider -- Notes on gourmandism -- The circus -- The nature of bis -- The colour of classics -- Some virtuosi in literature -- The virtuoso at home -- Possibilities of homosexual aesthetic of virtuosity -- Celluloid -- The pianola replaces Sappho's barbitos -- Musical chairs or, Il virtuoso seduto -- Aut Caesar, aut nihil -- Muscles and soul -- Mephistopheles in soutanes.