THE DOOR OF ETERNITY - Michele Selvini

The Life and Music of Bruno Walter

In all the international literature, including that of Germany and America, there is no study as extensive as this one dedicated to the great Berlin conductor. Michele Selvini, a doctor by profession but also an author and recording historian, has dedicated his last years and considerable resources to collecting and examining the sources of Bruno Walter's musical activity scattered throughout Europe and America. In doing so, he has completely reconstructed his life and work, bringing to light a vast repertoire of letters, articles, and autobiographical passages (including Remembrance by Walter himself, never translated into Italian), period reviews and contributions from musicians, entrepreneurs, politicians, writers, thereby placing a firm focus on the activity and teachings (also and above all moral) of a protagonist of the musical culture of the last century, never colluded with murderous ideologies, interpretative axioms and protagonist-driven stardom: that is, the one who has been rightly defined as the statesman of the music world.

650 pages

Format A5

Year 2021

MICHELE SELVINI (1948–2006), a Milanese medical graduate, was one of the founders and driving forces behind the music magazine Musica, the most prestigious periodical in the industry. A contributor to classical music broadcasts on Rai 3 and RTSI Lugano, Selvini directed the Il Melodramma series, published by Ricordi; Operaviva, Concerto, and Italian Opera by Curcio; Opera lirica by Ricordi–Mondadori: The Great Lyric and The Great Classical: Comparative Interpretations for Bramante; and The Great Musicians (Rizzoli–Corsera). He also authored countless liner notes for international CBS and Teldec productions. In 1996, he collaborated with Skira on the publication of Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli: il grembo del suono. In 1998, he was awarded the “Luigi Illica Prize” in Castel Arquato.