Paul Kildea Books

Benjamin Britten was Britain's foremost twentieth-century composer, often regarded as the greatest since Purcell. He broke away from the romantic nationalist tradition of composers like Parry, Elgar, and Vaughan Williams, reinventing English music in a modern European style. With operas such as Peter Grimes and Billy Budd, he created works that have entered both popular culture and the musical canon. Despite facing challenges due to his pacifism, which made him suspect during and after World War II, and his homosexuality, particularly his long relationship with Peter Pears, Britten's influence remained profound. Kildea's book effectively traces the evolution of Britten and Pears' relationship and their life in Aldeburgh, a setting that significantly shaped Britten's work. The narrative highlights how Britten fostered a creative community through the Aldeburgh Festival and Snape Maltings, while also revealing the personal costs of his ambitions on friendships and the lives of those around him. Kildea delves into Britten's music, offering insights into his creative process that are accessible to readers without formal musical training. This biography stands out as one of the most moving and enjoyable accounts of a creative artist in recent years.

The narrative explores the journey of Frédéric Chopin's twenty-four Preludes, focusing on the instruments used, notable pianists, and the traditions they embody. Central to the story is Chopin's Mallorquin pianino, saved by Wanda Landowska, which gained significant cultural importance during World War II as the Nazis sought to claim Chopin's legacy. Through rich prose and detailed storytelling, Paul Kildea delves into the transmission and interpretation of art, offering insights into the complexities of musical Romanticism and its appropriation over time.

In November 1838, Frederic Chopin, George Sand, and her children escaped the Parisian winter by sailing to Majorca, settling in an abandoned monastery at Valldemossa. Here, Chopin completed his revolutionary 24 Preludes on a small pianino crafted by a local artisan, which remained in their cell for decades. This captivating book explores the history of Chopin's Preludes through the instruments played, the pianists who interpreted them, and the traditions they shaped. It centers on the Majorcan pianino, which gained cultural significance during World War II as the Nazis sought to appropriate Chopin's music. The narrative also highlights Wanda Landowska, a prominent keyboardist and thinker, who rescued the pianino in 1913 and became a key figure in 20th-century music. Drawing from her private papers, Kildea intertwines her story with Chopin's, reflecting broader cultural and political histories of Europe and the U.S. The beautifully crafted narratives blend cultural history with a detective story, leading readers on an unexpected journey through musical Romanticism and prompting a fresh reflection on the evolving significance of music over time.