Musical Criticisms

A collection of a critic's essays and reviews paired with a brief biographical memoir, offering close readings of major scores and contemporary performances. It presents analytical studies of composers from Bach and Beethoven to Berlioz, Liszt, Wagner, Tchaikovsky, Elgar, and Richard Strauss, often centered on particular works, festivals, or landmark concerts. Additional sections evaluate chamber music, pianists and violinists, conducting, and interpretive trends, and include reflective pieces on nineteenth-century music and the reception of Wagner and Nietzsche. The memoir outlines the author's upbringing, education, and career, while portraits and correspondence shed light on his critical approach.