NEW YORKER music writer and author of acclaimed books Alex Ross offers a sweeping examination of how Richard Wagner's operas broke musical barriers and intersected with the culture of Belle poch Europe and the politics of Nazi Germany. As he delivers this 28-hour presentation of his latest book, Ross's vocal tone and vocal confidence fall short of the ideal. And despite his serviceable articulation and phrasing, fans of Ross's writing will notice that his musical insights, characteristically expressed in complex sentences full of context and esoteric details, seem less accessible in spoken-word format. But for Wagner devotees and students of philosophy and the arts, Ross's performance is good enough. The vast supply of knowledge about the writers, artists, and political figures of Wagner's era herein makes this audiobook a treasure trove of musical and cultural insights.
Pub Date: Sept. 15, 2020
Duration: 28 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9781250770110
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
An essential listen for Sondheim enthusiasts.
For those who know Sondheim best as the lyricist of Broadway giants such as Gypsy and West Side Story, this extremely well-researched, rather concise audiobook will enlighten and inform. Author Okrent’s boundless enthusiasm is clear in his performance as he discusses Sondheim’s personal and professional journey. Sondheim, who passed in 2021, was an intensely private man, but fans of Company, A Little Night Music, Sweeney Todd, and more of Sondheim's work will appreciate that Okrent was able to mine previously unexamined archives and other resources.
An essential listen for Sondheim enthusiasts.Pub Date: May 16, 2026
Duration: 8 hrs, 21 mins
DD ISBN: 9798228745124
Publisher: Blackstone Audio
Review Posted Online: April 28, 2026
Listeners will get to know a charming woman, and to share her love for poetry.
Oscar winner Ellen Burstyn is not only a marvelous actor, she is also a lover of poetry and a graceful and engaging writer. At 93, her voice is not as strong as it was, but she still knows how to use it to tell a story and interpret a poem. In this anthology she uses a selection of her favorite poems—some familiar, some from skilled but little-known poets—to trace the growth of her poetic taste, her relationship with the art, and her spiritual development. Her readings of Mary Oliver, Rumi, Poe, and more are as good as her comments, meaningful and instructive.
Listeners will get to know a charming woman, and to share her love for poetry.Pub Date: April 28, 2026
Duration: 5 hrs, 9 mins
DD ISBN: 9780063387706
Publisher: Harper Audio
Review Posted Online: May 26, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2026
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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