Classical Music: Expect the Unexpected

by Kent Nagano, Inge Kloepfer

How relevant is classical music today? The genre seems in danger of becoming nothing more than a hobby for the social elite. Yet Kent Nagano has another world in mind – one where everyone has access to classical music. In Classical Music: Expect the Unexpected the world-famous classical conductor tells the deeply personal story of his own engagement with the masterpieces and great composers of classical music, his work with the world's major orchestras, and his tireless commitment to bringing his music to everybody. Narrating his first childhood encounters with music's power to overcome social and ethnic boundaries, he celebrates an art form that has always taken part in debates about human values and societal developments. The constantly declining relevance of classical music in these disrupted times, he argues, not only impoverishes society from a cultural perspective but robs it of inspiration, wit, emotional depth, and a sense of community. Getting to grips with classical music's existential crisis, Nagano contends that it is too crucial to humanity's survival to be allowed to silently disappear from our everyday reality. In this moving autobiography, Kent Nagano makes a compelling plea for classical music that is as exhilarating as it is thought-provoking.

Genres: Music

248 pages, Hardcover

Published February 25, 2019

Reviews

[Sam · Rating 4 out of 5]

The thing that disappointed me was the very quick dismissal of modern music as a sort of decadent rubbish without any explanation. This turned the middle chapters into a bit of a moany waffle about the new generation.
The rest of the book though was so beautiful. his chapters on Messaien and Bruckner explain the workings of their music so perfectly.
100% recommend

[Brandon Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reaction: music director’s POV of the future of an ancient yet persistent art form
Writing Style: musings scattered with analysis of select works
Argumentation: The best way for classical music to survive is to continue engaging with the world, and teaching the young and old that this is key to our culture’s survival
Commendation: well-connected man with some interesting historical insight
Critique: draws on politics near end which is odd, keep it musically inclined

[Cord · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent.