Klaus Tennstedt

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Explore the captivating biography of Klaus Tennstedt (1926-1998), a remarkable conductor admired by legends like Herbert von Karajan and Carlos Kleiber. This book presents a fresh perspective on Tennstedt's life, unveiling previously unknown stories. As a child, he practiced violin and piano for two hours daily, increasing to five hours as a teenager. In a daring move, he fled East Germany with his girlfriend Anita, later marrying and starting a family far from his origins. The violin was a constant companion throughout his journey from Germany's youngest concertmaster to a world-renowned conductor, navigating political challenges in the GDR and adventurous escape attempts. His breakthrough in the West led to conducting prestigious orchestras, including the Boston Symphony, New York and London Philharmonics, and the Berlin Philharmonic, which he led over two dozen times. He became a superstar in the USA and England, revered in Japan. This eagerly awaited biography provides music lovers and Tennstedt fans with an unusual insight into the life of this underrated conductor. As journalist and best-selling author Norman Lebrecht noted, “There is no one today who has a fraction of his magnetism.”