Summer Reading (and Listening

A necessarily short list of summer reading titles related to music of varying kinds, and, in several instances, with connections to upcoming Cleveland Orchestra concerts. Procure for yourself or borrow from a library or friend.

FICTION

First Person Singular

by Haruki Murakami. 256 pages. 2021, Knopf.

“You could imagine Murakami’s process as an extension of catching stories via musical thinking, whether it’s jazz in ‘Charlie Parker Plays Bossa Nova,’ pop in ‘With the Beatles,’ or classical in ‘Carnaval,’ all included in this collection.” —New York Times

The Ensemble by Aja Gabel. 352 pages. 2019, Riverhead Books.

This debut novel follows sixteen years of the fi ctitious Van Ness Quartet and its members — Brit, Henry, Daniel, and Jana — from the launch of their careers to romantic entanglements and family tragedies, and their ability to make beautiful music through it all.

The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller. 415 pages. 2012, Ecco. “You don’t need to be familiar with Homer’s The Iliad (or Brad Pitt’s Troy, for that matter) to fi nd Madeline Miller’s The Song of Achilles spellbinding. . . . Her explorations of ego, grief, and love’s many permutations are both familiar and new. . . . A timeless love story.” —O magazine

The Queen of the Night

by Alexander Chee. 576 pages. 2016, Mariner Books. A historical novel depicting the dreams and inside struggles of a 19th-century American woman who travels to Europe as a circus performer, and then becomes a star at the Paris Opera. Chee weaves together a sure ability for evocatively telling details into a captivating story about life and love, adventure and music. The Noise of Time by Julian Barnes. 224 pages. 2017, Vintage. “This is an imagining of Shostakovich’s inner life and struggles, resulting in a condensed masterpiece that traces the lifelong battle of his conscience and art with the insupportable exigencies of totalitarianism.” —The Guardian

Nocturnes: Five Stories

of Music by Kazuo Ishiguro. 240 pages. 2009, Knopf. “In this volume of short stories, Kazuo Ishiguro, author of Remains of the Day, blends musical concepts with their literary counterparts, taking on the . . . quality of a song cycle with recurring themes and motifs developed in diff erent prose keys.” —Bookmarks magazine

POETRY

Beethoven Variations: Poems

on a Life by Ruth Padel. 144 pages. 2021, Knopf. “Balancing a historian’s fi delity to archives and a musician’s passion for composition, Padel off ers a lavish poetic biography of Beethoven. . . . Afi cionados of classical music may draw inspiration from this ambitiously conceived reconsideration of Beethoven’s genius.” —Publishers Weekly

Non-FICTION

Songs of America: Patriotism, Protest, and the Music That Made a Nation

by Jon Meacham and Tim McGraw. 320 pages. 2019, Random House. A fascinating exploration of songs that have helped shape America’s history, from “The Star-Spangled Banner” to “We Shall Overcome” and “Age of Aquarius.” Historian Jon Meacham teams up with country singersongwriter Tim McGraw for a blending of art and power, words and storytelling.

Wagnerism: Art and Politics in the Shadow of Music

by Alex Ross. 784 pages. 2020, Farrar, Straus and Giroux.

From Bayreuth to Bugs Bunny, New Yorker music critic Alex Ross looks at the unprecedented, multifaceted infl uence — and controversy — that Richard Wagner’s music and ideas have sparked across the arts, culture, philosophy, and politics in this impressively researched, deftly constructed (and deconstructed), and well-argued 700-page tome.

The Heart of a Woman: The Life and Music of Florence B. Price

by Rae Linda Brown. 332 pages. 2020, University of Illinois Press. The fi rst-ever biography of classical composer Florence Price — whose piano concerto is being performed at Blossom on July 3-4. The book outlines her private and professional career, from New York to Chicago, as she became the fi rst African American woman to gain national recognition for her symphonic and chamber works.

Mozart’s Women: His Family, His

Friends, His Music by Jane Glover. 432 pages. 2006, Harper Perennial. A magnifi cently written book all about Mozart and his music, viewed through the lens of the important women in his life — including the often neglected story of his wife’s long life after his death — by conductor Jane Glover, who appears on July 11 at Blossom and in March during the upcoming Severance Hall season.

Music in 1853: The Biography

of a Year by Hugh Macdonald. 224 pages. 2012, Boydell Press. Coincidence or history? This fascinating book takes a look at classical music’s doing across Europe in the singular year of 1853, weaving together the many threads and personalities at work. Their interactions, meetings, and near-meetings are advanced by the continent’s newly expanding and newfangled railroad system. Author Hugh Macdonald, who has written extensively for The Cleveland Orchestra, brings to life an era of tantalizing possiblities and relationships. Aria Code, from WQXR, Metropolitan Opera, and WNYC Studios

Now in its third season, this podcast brings together singers, musicologists, and a wealth of experts from an unexpectedly wide range of fi elds to break down some of the most poignant and famous moments in opera.

In addition to The Cleveland Orchestra’s own pod cast, On a Personal Note, or such mainstay radio programs as “Performance Today,” many series off er insight and exploration into musical creativity and the personalities behind the art. These include:

Switched On Pop, from Vulture

Don’t let its name deter you. Hosts Nate Sloan, a musicologist, and Charlie Harding, a music journalist and songwriter, are equally at home talking Top 40 hits, chamber music, Beethoven, and jazz.

Sound Board, from Steinway & Sons

Hosted by Ben Finane, Steinway’s editor-in-chief, this series shares insight from pianists as well as fi gures across the cultural spectrum, exploring connections between music, art, fashion, theater, and life.

Presto Music Podcast

from Presto Music

Launched during the pandemic, and produced by the UK’s leading online seller of jazz and classical recordings, this podcast is now in its second season. Presto’s product manager, Paul Thomas, conducts wide-ranging interviews with mostly UK-based writers and musicians.

Twenty Thousand Hertz

from Dallas Taylor

A “lovingly crafted” podcast uncovering the history behind some of the most famous audible icons, including the 20th Century Fox fanfare, John Cage’s 4'33" and Netfl ix’s “Ta-Dum.”

“The Cleveland Orchestra is a precious gem in Northeast Ohio. Your beautiful music transcends ious nscends a pr

the soul, speaks to all humanity, and unites people. Whether bringing community into the gorgeous foyer of Severance Hall, uniting friends and family on picnic blankets at Blossom, streaming online, or educating students, you are touching lives and uplifting spirits! Thank you” —Rebecca Ellsworth hether ce Hall, m,

Proud Orchestra Supporter

Thank you, music-lovers!

Over the past year, thousands of passionate supporters like Rebecca have stepped up to sustain The Cleveland Orchestra through the pandemic. The Cleveland Orchestra returns to live performances this summer, and we want to say thank you for keeping the music playing! We are so grateful.

Be part of the Orchestra’s return to the stage.

We are thrilled to welcome audiences back to our summer home thanks to music-lovers like you. With your donation today, you help The Cleveland Orchestra share the joy of music at Blossom with family and friends across our community. Every dollar makes a diff erence for the music you love. We hope you will consider making your tax-deductible donation today. • Visit clevelandorchestra.com/give • Call 216-456-8400 • Scan QR code at right with your smartphone camera

You are the reason we can return to the Blossom stage this summer — and will soon reunite for performances at Severance Hall, in Miami, and around the world. Thank you to our entire Cleveland Orchestra family for standing up for music.

For questions about your gift, please contact our Donor Services team: 216-456-8400 or donate@clevelandorchestra.com