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Concert Black
From the acclaimed author of
Above the Fire
comes
Concert Black
, a hauntingly elegant novel that unspools a tale of music, obsession, and the fragile architecture of legacy.
Ellen Wroe, a celebrated biographer known for her piercing insight, sets her sights on Cecil Woodbridge, the legendary conductor whose name reverberates through concert halls and conservatories. But Woodbridge, imperious and elusive, rebuffs her approach and conspires to thwart her efforts. Undeterred, Wroe embarks on a relentless pursuit, trailing the maestro across continents—through the archives of his correspondence, into the confidences of his colleagues, and deeper still into the long shadow of his past.
Maestro, cellist, king of the baton—Woodbridge is a man enshrined in myth and bristling with contradictions. Beneath the grandeur lies a hidden lattice of ambition, betrayal, and sorrow. As Wroe attempts to chart his ascent, she uncovers not only the cost of genius but the wreckage it often leaves behind.
With lyrical precision and atmospheric sweep, Concert Black echoes the psychological depth of Ian McEwan’s Atonement and the philosophical resonance of Julian Barnes’s The Noise of Time. From the frostbitten avenues of postwar London to the symphonic stages of Boston and Chicago, biographer and subject circle each other in an elegiac dance—until they collide in a reckoning neither can escape.
A novel of ambition and artistry, Concert Black is a symphony of human piercing, poised, and unforgettable.
Ellen Wroe, a celebrated biographer known for her piercing insight, sets her sights on Cecil Woodbridge, the legendary conductor whose name reverberates through concert halls and conservatories. But Woodbridge, imperious and elusive, rebuffs her approach and conspires to thwart her efforts. Undeterred, Wroe embarks on a relentless pursuit, trailing the maestro across continents—through the archives of his correspondence, into the confidences of his colleagues, and deeper still into the long shadow of his past.
Maestro, cellist, king of the baton—Woodbridge is a man enshrined in myth and bristling with contradictions. Beneath the grandeur lies a hidden lattice of ambition, betrayal, and sorrow. As Wroe attempts to chart his ascent, she uncovers not only the cost of genius but the wreckage it often leaves behind.
With lyrical precision and atmospheric sweep, Concert Black echoes the psychological depth of Ian McEwan’s Atonement and the philosophical resonance of Julian Barnes’s The Noise of Time. From the frostbitten avenues of postwar London to the symphonic stages of Boston and Chicago, biographer and subject circle each other in an elegiac dance—until they collide in a reckoning neither can escape.
A novel of ambition and artistry, Concert Black is a symphony of human piercing, poised, and unforgettable.
- GenresFiction
272 pages, Hardcover
First published April 21, 2026
About the author
Michael O'Donnell
2 books63 followersMichael O'Donnell is the bestselling author of the novels ABOVE THE FIRE and CONCERT BLACK. In 2023 Apple Books named him a debut writer to watch. His work also appears in The New York Times, The Atlantic Monthly, The Wall Street Journal, and The Economist, among other publications. A longtime member of the National Book Critics Circle, he lives in the Chicago area with his family.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
August 4, 2026
Had much higher hopes. Not sure why. Definitely a good read, but yet somehow still a little disappointed.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Do not miss this novel! It won't be out until April (2026), but whenever you can get your hands on it, do so.
It's the story of Ellen Wroe, a famous woman writer of biographies who wants to do a book on one of the world's great orchestra conductors. This is a thoughtful researcher whose books carefully balance the good and not-so-good aspects of her subject's illustrious career. No hatchet jobs here.
Many people of renown would be pleased to be written about by her, but not Cecil Woodbridge, or as he's referred, or deferred to by everyone in his orbit, the Maestro. He will stop at nothing to stop her from doing this book despite her legal right to do so as he is a public figure. But he will fight her every step of the way employing some of the best legal talent available.
it all cones down to a secret that he fears will destroy his whole career, his legacy, should it come out. And she will stop at nothing to tell his complete story, whatever it is, wherever it leads to.
The secret itself, and its resolution, are two of the most elegant parts of this well-written novel. Saying more would spoil the pleasure of discovering it for yourself.
"Well-written" is not a phrase to be used lightly, at least by me. It's a pleasure to read a book where the writer is totally in charge of his craft. Call it a feel for language, a tautness, like fine brickwork, a command of their art that good writers offer to their readers. You know it when you see it.
It's the story of Ellen Wroe, a famous woman writer of biographies who wants to do a book on one of the world's great orchestra conductors. This is a thoughtful researcher whose books carefully balance the good and not-so-good aspects of her subject's illustrious career. No hatchet jobs here.
Many people of renown would be pleased to be written about by her, but not Cecil Woodbridge, or as he's referred, or deferred to by everyone in his orbit, the Maestro. He will stop at nothing to stop her from doing this book despite her legal right to do so as he is a public figure. But he will fight her every step of the way employing some of the best legal talent available.
it all cones down to a secret that he fears will destroy his whole career, his legacy, should it come out. And she will stop at nothing to tell his complete story, whatever it is, wherever it leads to.
The secret itself, and its resolution, are two of the most elegant parts of this well-written novel. Saying more would spoil the pleasure of discovering it for yourself.
"Well-written" is not a phrase to be used lightly, at least by me. It's a pleasure to read a book where the writer is totally in charge of his craft. Call it a feel for language, a tautness, like fine brickwork, a command of their art that good writers offer to their readers. You know it when you see it.
June 26, 2026
Concert Black will stay with me long after I turned the last page. Michael O’Donnell has crafted a story that’s emotionally compelling with richly developed characters and themes that resonate deeply. I was drawn into the world of Cecil Woodbridge and Ellen Wroe from the very first chapter. What impressed me most about Concert Black was how it balanced heart, intellect, and humanity. The characters feel authentic, their relationships are nuanced, and the emotional moments are earned rather than manufactured. I couldn’t put it down, especially towards the last third of the book. O’Donnell writes with a clear love for both music and the complexities of the human experience. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5 stars!
August 6, 2026
Had I read the synopsis of this book, I might have skipped reading it as this is not typically a story that would have caught my interest. Yet, a couple quick chapters was enough to hook me.
Having read Above the Fire, which I found was either so well researched or told by someone who had spent time in the mountains, I was highly skeptical of how the same author could write using similar authority surrounding a story such as this. Yet again, I was highly impressed.
I felt that every page was needed for this one. As I continued to read, I couldn’t read fast enough. Reaching the end of a chapter, only to be left on a cliff hanger where answers were slowly revealed is true story telling in my opinion which takes patience and talent.
The characters were fantastic, in many ways, pitting good against evil, or at least the appearance of such. The mind games, strategy, control, narcissism, sadness, hurt, and revenge are all on full display, untangling as the story moves at a beautiful pace, all culminating in what I found to be the most perfect ending. I sat the book down and didn’t want to read anything else for a few days because I couldn’t stop thinking about this one.
This was one of the top 5 books I have read so far this year and has solidified O’Donnell as a favorite author of mine.
Having read Above the Fire, which I found was either so well researched or told by someone who had spent time in the mountains, I was highly skeptical of how the same author could write using similar authority surrounding a story such as this. Yet again, I was highly impressed.
I felt that every page was needed for this one. As I continued to read, I couldn’t read fast enough. Reaching the end of a chapter, only to be left on a cliff hanger where answers were slowly revealed is true story telling in my opinion which takes patience and talent.
The characters were fantastic, in many ways, pitting good against evil, or at least the appearance of such. The mind games, strategy, control, narcissism, sadness, hurt, and revenge are all on full display, untangling as the story moves at a beautiful pace, all culminating in what I found to be the most perfect ending. I sat the book down and didn’t want to read anything else for a few days because I couldn’t stop thinking about this one.
This was one of the top 5 books I have read so far this year and has solidified O’Donnell as a favorite author of mine.
July 6, 2026
I bought this book primarily because I spent my teenage years training to sing opera. During that time, I fully expected to have a career as an opera soprano with one opera company or another. And I did, for a short time. However, much as I love to sing, I found the world of grand opera to be every bit as backstabbing and cut-throat as O’Donnell portrays it to be. I’m an easygoing person who finds it very difficult to tolerate drama and discord in my life, so, with some big regrets I bid the world of opera, at least as a performer, goodbye. If you’ve seen the movie The Black Swan, grand opera is every inch as cut-throat as ballet, probably more so. Those who have not been a part of this rarefied world have little to no idea; however, they don’t call opera sopranos “divas” for nothing. In his novel, Concert Black, Michael O’Donnell catches this brutal cut-throat seam running through the world of the performing arts perfectly, and I really appreciated that.
The protagonists of Concert Black are Ellen Wroe and Cecil Woodbridge. Ellen has taken it upon herself to write an unauthorized biography of the acclaimed maestro, Cecil Woodbridge (fictional). Cecil grew up in a very working class neighborhood in East London, where he was called Artie Blair, something he’d rather forget about today, though Ellen won’t let him. To his credit, he managed to lose his Cockney accent, and he did study—he was an aspiring cellist—at the prestigious Royal Academy of Music. He’s been elevated to the music directorship of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. No small feat, that. Very few people reach the heights in the world of classical music, which requires inborn talent, acquired skill, and a dash of luck. The maestro, however, is hiding a very dark secret, and it’s one that Ellen vows to ferret out.
Both Woodbridge and Wroe are intense individuals, and both are well respected in their chosen professions and dedicated to perfection. I thought this was a wonderful choice in characterization. Woodbridge and Wroe, as you can imagine are butting heads, figuratively, of course, since they don’t meet in person for much of the book. Wroe, who is middle-aged when she decides to write the biography Woodbridge hopes will never see the light of day, has already won the Pulitzer Prize, and she prioritizes her work above all else in life. For her, meaningful relationships just don’t exist. Woodbridge is seventy and at the zenith of his career, and there is nothing—and I mean nothing—that he won’t do to preserve his legacy and stop Wroe from digging into his past and unearthing dark secrets he took great care to bury.
I’ve heard some criticism of the book, saying it’s too melodramatic at times. Believe me, I’ve been there, and it’s not. Not at all. Just the opposite. O’Donnell is to be commended for his unflinching look at the dark underbelly of the world of the performing arts. This book contains a true-to-life psychological exploration of ruthless ambition, artistic greatness, flawed genius, and the price of celebrity…on the part of both Woodbridge and Wroe.
The details in this book are pitch perfect. The conservatories, the concert halls, and the pressures of classical performance all ring true. Those who are familiar with the Chicago Symphony are going to love the detail in this book, which, as I remember things, is quite accurate.
O’Donnell excels at creating a strong sense of place, whether it be the concert hall, the atmosphere of post-war Britain, the Scottish highlands, and the cities of London and Chicago.
His prose is lovely and quite elegant. This is a beautifully crafted and beautifully written book, with prose that befits some of the world’s musical masterpieces.
So, do Woodbridge and Wroe ever meet in person? Yes, they do, most importantly at the novel’s climax. I read that some people did not like the ending of the book at all, but honestly, I don’t see how it could end any other way without devolving into sentimentality or turn into a generic thriller instead of the deep psychological study it is. I want to avoid spoilers, so I’ll just say that it ends in Chicago with a performance of Igor Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring, and a profound betrayal.
This is a book for anyone who loves a good—no, a superlative—book; however, I think those who love classical music are going to like it more than those who don’t. I loved it. I loved its subject matter, its themes, its elegant prose, and more. The only thing that would have made me love it more is if the entire book had taken place in London and the surrounding area. But that’s a quibble. I’m a European and an Anglophile, so naturally, I’m going to prefer England. But this book was one of the best I’ve read this year.
Recommended: Especially to those who are part of the performing arts community or who love the performing arts. However, this elegant and beautiful book is perfect for just about any intelligent reader.
P.S. In case anyone is wondering about the title, here is what Google gave me regarding the meaning of “concert black”: Concert black is a formal dress code for musicians and performers requiring head-to-toe black clothing. The goal is to create a visually unified ensemble so the audience focuses entirely on the music rather than individual (orchestral) performers.
The protagonists of Concert Black are Ellen Wroe and Cecil Woodbridge. Ellen has taken it upon herself to write an unauthorized biography of the acclaimed maestro, Cecil Woodbridge (fictional). Cecil grew up in a very working class neighborhood in East London, where he was called Artie Blair, something he’d rather forget about today, though Ellen won’t let him. To his credit, he managed to lose his Cockney accent, and he did study—he was an aspiring cellist—at the prestigious Royal Academy of Music. He’s been elevated to the music directorship of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. No small feat, that. Very few people reach the heights in the world of classical music, which requires inborn talent, acquired skill, and a dash of luck. The maestro, however, is hiding a very dark secret, and it’s one that Ellen vows to ferret out.
Both Woodbridge and Wroe are intense individuals, and both are well respected in their chosen professions and dedicated to perfection. I thought this was a wonderful choice in characterization. Woodbridge and Wroe, as you can imagine are butting heads, figuratively, of course, since they don’t meet in person for much of the book. Wroe, who is middle-aged when she decides to write the biography Woodbridge hopes will never see the light of day, has already won the Pulitzer Prize, and she prioritizes her work above all else in life. For her, meaningful relationships just don’t exist. Woodbridge is seventy and at the zenith of his career, and there is nothing—and I mean nothing—that he won’t do to preserve his legacy and stop Wroe from digging into his past and unearthing dark secrets he took great care to bury.
I’ve heard some criticism of the book, saying it’s too melodramatic at times. Believe me, I’ve been there, and it’s not. Not at all. Just the opposite. O’Donnell is to be commended for his unflinching look at the dark underbelly of the world of the performing arts. This book contains a true-to-life psychological exploration of ruthless ambition, artistic greatness, flawed genius, and the price of celebrity…on the part of both Woodbridge and Wroe.
The details in this book are pitch perfect. The conservatories, the concert halls, and the pressures of classical performance all ring true. Those who are familiar with the Chicago Symphony are going to love the detail in this book, which, as I remember things, is quite accurate.
O’Donnell excels at creating a strong sense of place, whether it be the concert hall, the atmosphere of post-war Britain, the Scottish highlands, and the cities of London and Chicago.
His prose is lovely and quite elegant. This is a beautifully crafted and beautifully written book, with prose that befits some of the world’s musical masterpieces.
So, do Woodbridge and Wroe ever meet in person? Yes, they do, most importantly at the novel’s climax. I read that some people did not like the ending of the book at all, but honestly, I don’t see how it could end any other way without devolving into sentimentality or turn into a generic thriller instead of the deep psychological study it is. I want to avoid spoilers, so I’ll just say that it ends in Chicago with a performance of Igor Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring, and a profound betrayal.
This is a book for anyone who loves a good—no, a superlative—book; however, I think those who love classical music are going to like it more than those who don’t. I loved it. I loved its subject matter, its themes, its elegant prose, and more. The only thing that would have made me love it more is if the entire book had taken place in London and the surrounding area. But that’s a quibble. I’m a European and an Anglophile, so naturally, I’m going to prefer England. But this book was one of the best I’ve read this year.
Recommended: Especially to those who are part of the performing arts community or who love the performing arts. However, this elegant and beautiful book is perfect for just about any intelligent reader.
P.S. In case anyone is wondering about the title, here is what Google gave me regarding the meaning of “concert black”: Concert black is a formal dress code for musicians and performers requiring head-to-toe black clothing. The goal is to create a visually unified ensemble so the audience focuses entirely on the music rather than individual (orchestral) performers.
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
I’m a sucker for a movie, tv show, or book about the world of orchestra and its composers and musicians. Mr. Holland’s Opus as a movie, Mozart in the Jungle as a tv show, and last year’s The Instrumentalist as a book are pieces of art that I will enjoy repeated viewings of as long as I’m alive and able. The unbelievable talent of musicians astounds me and I’m the first to analyze a song or movie/musical score rather than the plot. My friends hate it. But getting a peek into their world thrills me with the endless rehearsals, infighting, politics, ambitions, first drafts, interpretations, and then the final product everyone else sees on concert night. It’s a petty world, and it is beautiful and cutthroat.
In Concert Black, everyone knows Cecil Woodbridge, the legendary conductor, even if they don’t follow the orchestra world. He is Maestro, a renowned cellist, and king of the baton. Now into his 80s and facing imminent retirement, he has managed to maintain his meticulously crafted image of a man of myth and genius. But Ellen Wroe, the also legendary biographer although only half his age, has set her sights on him. Cecil refuses interviews that will contribute to her biography, but she plans to write it with or without his help. Will she be able to capture his complexity beyond his public image while tracing his life from boyhood through his talented student years and meteoric professional career? Will she also uncover the reasons Cecil is doing all he can to prevent this biography from even happening?
Great men are always concerned about their legacy. Who tells your story and what will they say? What we take as truth is filtered through the viewers’ biases, their angle and point of view, and their clarity of memory. If given only one cleaned up, glossy image, then everyone will tell the same story. And if that image makes everyone happy, do we need to include one person’s view that tells a different story?
Damn it, this book is so good! And the ending blew me away. It was very much like the final movement of one of those cello sonatas with the prose ratcheting up and up, tighter and tighter until you can feel the sweet squeeze of tension and then its resolution. Incredibly done. No notes. Bravo, Michael O’Donnell. 5 stars
Thank you to Blackstone Publishing, Michael O’Donnell (author), and Edelweiss for a digital review copy of Concert Black. Their generosity did not influence my review in any way.
In Concert Black, everyone knows Cecil Woodbridge, the legendary conductor, even if they don’t follow the orchestra world. He is Maestro, a renowned cellist, and king of the baton. Now into his 80s and facing imminent retirement, he has managed to maintain his meticulously crafted image of a man of myth and genius. But Ellen Wroe, the also legendary biographer although only half his age, has set her sights on him. Cecil refuses interviews that will contribute to her biography, but she plans to write it with or without his help. Will she be able to capture his complexity beyond his public image while tracing his life from boyhood through his talented student years and meteoric professional career? Will she also uncover the reasons Cecil is doing all he can to prevent this biography from even happening?
Great men are always concerned about their legacy. Who tells your story and what will they say? What we take as truth is filtered through the viewers’ biases, their angle and point of view, and their clarity of memory. If given only one cleaned up, glossy image, then everyone will tell the same story. And if that image makes everyone happy, do we need to include one person’s view that tells a different story?
Damn it, this book is so good! And the ending blew me away. It was very much like the final movement of one of those cello sonatas with the prose ratcheting up and up, tighter and tighter until you can feel the sweet squeeze of tension and then its resolution. Incredibly done. No notes. Bravo, Michael O’Donnell. 5 stars
Thank you to Blackstone Publishing, Michael O’Donnell (author), and Edelweiss for a digital review copy of Concert Black. Their generosity did not influence my review in any way.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
"What's your oldest secret? Something you've never even said out loud. And what would you do to keep it?
I loved reading Mr. O'Donnell's first novel "Above the Fire" and because I can appreciate his writing style I dove into his second novel without even reading the blurb. It certainly didn't disappoint. The story takes us from post-war London to today's Boston and through the Scottish Highlands and New York, while dissecting the protagonist's ruthless ambition and how he deals with old age. I was taken back to my childhood when my father used to play Von Karajan's records with the famous yellow label of "Deutsche Grammophon" and I pictured the Maestro as Von Karajan. I had a brief stint as a pianist as a teen but unfortunately my knowledge of classical music ends here, and maybe that ignorance allowed me to just soak in all the technical knowledge about concerts and let me revel in the world of black ties and silk gowns.
The writing style is just as crisp and poetic as I remember from "Above the Fire" and the story is captivating. I can only truly recommend reading this book if you like music and are curious about the behind the scenes politics of any concert you'd have ever seen. You might never look at a conductor the same way again.
Thank you NetGalley, Blackstone publishing and the author for allowing me to be an early reader. All opinions are my own.
I loved reading Mr. O'Donnell's first novel "Above the Fire" and because I can appreciate his writing style I dove into his second novel without even reading the blurb. It certainly didn't disappoint. The story takes us from post-war London to today's Boston and through the Scottish Highlands and New York, while dissecting the protagonist's ruthless ambition and how he deals with old age. I was taken back to my childhood when my father used to play Von Karajan's records with the famous yellow label of "Deutsche Grammophon" and I pictured the Maestro as Von Karajan. I had a brief stint as a pianist as a teen but unfortunately my knowledge of classical music ends here, and maybe that ignorance allowed me to just soak in all the technical knowledge about concerts and let me revel in the world of black ties and silk gowns.
The writing style is just as crisp and poetic as I remember from "Above the Fire" and the story is captivating. I can only truly recommend reading this book if you like music and are curious about the behind the scenes politics of any concert you'd have ever seen. You might never look at a conductor the same way again.
Thank you NetGalley, Blackstone publishing and the author for allowing me to be an early reader. All opinions are my own.
June 29, 2026
As a professional musician, I am both drawn to and constantly disappointed by books set in the classical world. Concert Black was an engaging and well-written novel in its own right, and it also managed to hit the musical elements perfectly, with nothing making me roll my eyes or read passages to my husband in great irritation, no small feat with musical novels. This is an underrated gem - not even 20 ratings on Goodreads! - and I don't even remember how it got on my radar. Ellen Wroe is a renowned biographer who wants to make the esteemed conductor Cecil Woodbridge her next subject. Cecil wants no part of it unless he gets to be in control of the content, which is a no-go for Ellen. Both Cecil and Ellen have secrets, though Ellen's is admittedly smaller, and the reader is aware of it almost from the start. As Ellen dives into researching Cecil's life and career, we get flashbacks to two young cellists in the same studio at the Royal Academy of Music. Everything comes together brilliantly by the end of the book, and Cecil's secret as well as its reveal are plotted out with just the right amount of suspense and tension. I really hope more people pick this book up; I don't think you need any sort of musical knowledge or background to appreciate the story and the writing. And I'm definitely going to put O'Donnell's other novel on my TBR.
August 12, 2026
Finally, an author who definitely knows whereof he speaks with regard to the classical music world. As someone who went through conservatory training, this book rings true. I found the ending a bit overly dramatic, but that did not overshadow the veracity of the subject. Well done.
May 25, 2026
A bit slow and disconnected at first, but an interesting story.
May 14, 2026
I certainly enjoyed this book. Granted, it isn't a perfect story, but it is one about classical music, conductors, and orchestras. The main characters are both quite interesting, and I genuinely wanted to see how the story would finish. There are not many books of this kind, so if you are fond of these topics, there isn't a huge selection to choose from.
If the idea of a Stradivarius cello gets your heart beating, I’d say definitely go get this book. In the end, I’m glad I picked it up. It’s a refreshing change of pace from more typical novels, and the ending was satisfying enough to make the journey worthwhile. It may not be a masterpiece, but for a classical music fan, it’s a very pleasant way to spend a few afternoons.
If the idea of a Stradivarius cello gets your heart beating, I’d say definitely go get this book. In the end, I’m glad I picked it up. It’s a refreshing change of pace from more typical novels, and the ending was satisfying enough to make the journey worthwhile. It may not be a masterpiece, but for a classical music fan, it’s a very pleasant way to spend a few afternoons.
June 5, 2026
I loved this read. I am not a classical music buff, yet really enjoyed these characters and the texture of geography and places in which the story is set. The use of music throughout enriched the drama and suspense and perfectly carried the climax and resolution of the story. Looking forward to O'Donnell's next venture!
May 19, 2026
What a great read and fantastic cast of dynamic characters! You don’t have to have a special interest in classical music to enjoy this suspenseful story about a mysterious maestro and his relentless biographer.
I was hooked from beginning to end, and enjoyed the symmetry of the twisting tales from post-war London and early 2000s Chicago.
Don’t let this one sneak by you!
I was hooked from beginning to end, and enjoyed the symmetry of the twisting tales from post-war London and early 2000s Chicago.
Don’t let this one sneak by you!
April 28, 2026
I thought it was a very good twist! Kinda could predict from pretty early on but his portrayal of all in classical music was pretty spot on. it was like a beach read for me. If you're in classical music and/or interested in classical musicians, this book is pretty comprehensive!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Tense, impressive, and well-written book about an interesting conductor. As a classical music fan, this was a really interesting read. 5 stars. tysm for the E-ARC.
May 26, 2026
Loved this one! It had such an intimate feel as the reader got to be part of the classical music scene in Chicago and beyond. I will honestly be thinking of these characters for a good long while.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews