John Suchet

I would not be surprised to find out that either John Suchet is 250 years old or he has a time machine, as I felt as if he knew Mozart personally whilst reading his completely spellbinding book entitled Mozart: The Man Revealed.

As a regular listener to Classic FM, I look forward to Mozart Mondays as nothing is better at setting you up for the week ahead than the jollity of Mozart's compositions. I always find myself humming or whistling along without even realising it, completely unaware of show more the stories that lie behind the child prodigy and his famous works.

I have previously read and enjoyed John Suchet's fantastic book on Johann Strauss, but this book goes one step further as we really get to know the young composer through his own words by examining letters that he and his father wrote home whilst on tour. The young Mozart is every bit the precocious child we imagine but he also had the most amazing sense of humour, often without a filter which would place him on the autistic spectrum today.

As well as Mozart's sense of humour, John Suchet's fabulous sense of humour comes through in his writing. I won't spoil the whole book but there is a particular painting of Mozart and his sister, Nannerl, who has the most gigantic hair, that makes me chuckle just thinking about it. Mozart's humour is definitely what we could call 'toilet humour' as he is very rude and just doesn't care less. Listening to his work after reading this book seems to add a new dimension, as I feel as if I can now effortlessly tap into the feelings that are woven into each exceptional piece of music.

An absolute must-read for any classical music fan, where you can really get to know the man behind the music in Mozart: The Man Revealed. It is so authentic and fascinating that it could easily be called Mozart: In His Own Words. Think you know Mozart? Think again!

I chose to read an ARC and this is my honest and unbiased opinion. show less

I suppose that, were I to refer to this as a biography, someone would pull me up to remind me that it is a novel. This may be true, and I know that things which are by no means certain, are alluded to as fact (e.g. Mozart's meeting with Beethoven) but, is this not also true of "factual biographies"? A biographer has a theory that their main character did, or said something which no one has previously recorded and this becomes the sensational main selling point of the book. Suchet has done as show more much research as any 'straight biographer' and his aim is not to achieve a u.s.p.; he simply wants the reader to appreciate Beethoven a little more.

I admit to being something of a classical music novice, but I had not realised that Beethoven's music was considered quite so audacious when it was first produced. It is hard, post punk, to be outraged at Beethoven! A good novel (and this is a good novel) puts one at the heart of the action and, whilst some of the musical explanations are a little above my head, it was easy to feel the same amazement at the composer's daring.

John Suchet is a, self confessed, Beethoven acolyte but he skilfully avoids making his hero into a saintly creature in whose mouth the proverbial butter would retain its stiff character. His Ludwig can be arrogant, rude and bullying but, he also displays humility, tact and the art of passivity. In other words, he becomes a real person.

The greatest compliment that I can pay to this book is that it sent me scurrying to my CD racks to dig out my Beethoven CD's and, that when I played them, I felt a new insight into what the composer was trying to do with his music - and I, for one, am grateful for any help that I can get in that sphere. show less

"The world's best-loved composer"
By sally tarbox on 5 October 2017
Format: Kindle Edition
An extemely readable account of the composer's life, drawing on witness statements and letters and with colour photos throughout.
We read of his early musical aptitude and his father's efforts to exploit his two child prodigies by taking them on lengthy tours across Europe. There was an increasingly difficult relationship between Mozart and his controlling father, as the young man sought to make his own show more decisions and consort with women of whom his parents disapproved.
Both father and son seemed to have personalities that antagonised those around them. And mother and son seemed to share an unpleasing scatological sense of humour...
But Mozart had a huge work ethic and was composing on his death bed, although the celebrity and adulation we might expect weren't adequately fothcoming in his lifetime.
A beautifully illustrated and well-written biography. show less

Ever since watching the Sound of Music as a youngster, I've loved the sound of the waltz and the beauty of Austria. There's no greater composer of the waltz than The Waltz King himself, Johann Strauss. On picking up this book, I was immediately enchanted with the gaiety and exuberance of the Viennese way of life. By interspersing Strauss history with Austrian history it kept my interest throughout, as one would expect from the wonderful John Suchet.

From the introduction of coffee to Vienna show more following the attempted Turkish siege to the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand that triggered World War I, this is a book that will fascinate anyone with a love of history. The Strauss family history is no less turbulent. I had absolutely no idea that composers such as Strauss went on tour. I was amazed to read that Johann Strauss senior toured Europe and the UK, even playing for Queen Victoria before she was crowned.

It is clear that John Suchet has a love of Strauss. The way some of the pieces are described meant that I could almost hear them in my head whilst I was reading. Some people new to classical music might think that they don't know any of the compositions of Strauss but as soon as you hear them they become instantly recognisable. Strauss does indeed make you happy and you can't help but hum or whistle along, tap your feet and feel the smile light up your face when you listen to Strauss.

Beautifully written with fascinating photographs throughout, this is a must read for anyone with a love of classical music or an interest in the Habsburg empire.

I received this book from the publisher, Elliott & Thompson, in exchange for an honest review. show less