Piano Man

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Pub Date 27 Mar 2014 | Archive Date 14 Jan 2015

Description

The first full biography of John Ogdon; a tortured genius and arguably the greatest British pianist of all time.

From the beginning of his professional career as a soloist John Ogdon was hailed as a musician of rare understanding and phenomenal technical gifts. Able to play and memorize just about any score at sight, tales of his impossible exploits at the keyboard are legion. Yet Ogdon was a man of extremes and it was this very extremity, while the source of much of his gift, that also led to appalling suffering.

Here was a man whose feelings were inexpressibly deep and often tormenting, and Ogdon's glory days, following his coveted Tchaikovsky prize in 1962, came to a sudden end in 1973 when he suffered a severe mental breakdown which led to his being certified insane and made patient of the Court of Protection. Over the course of several harrowing years Ogdon would spend large periods of time in and out of psychiatric wards and halfway houses. The drugs and treatments prescribed sometimes affected his coordination, and his reputation suffered as a result. Yet Ogdon's commitment to his art remained undimmed, and until the end he drew out performances of tremendous beauty and conviction from the depths of his ravaged heart.

In this illuminating biography, Charles Beauclerk explores the life of a brilliantly inspired artist, for whom music was both his cross and his salvation.

The first full biography of John Ogdon; a tortured genius and arguably the greatest British pianist of all time.

From the beginning of his professional career as a soloist John Ogdon was hailed as a...


A Note From the Publisher

Charles Beauclerk is the author of a biography of his ancestor Nell Gwyn and a book on Shakespeare.

Charles Beauclerk is the author of a biography of his ancestor Nell Gwyn and a book on Shakespeare.


Advance Praise

'John Ogdon led one of the most brilliant and yet most hauntingly tragic lives in the late twentieth century. No more technically or gifted British pianist ever lived… this book offers so much more of an insight into a magnificent but hurt mind' Stephen Fry

'There was no gentler giant in music than John Ogdon' Edward Greenfield, Guardian

'His never diminishing interest in contemporary music should continue to be an example for all performing artists' Daniel Barenboim

'He was a genius of enormous sensitivity and very great humour' Sir Peter Maxwell Davies

'He was a unique personality among British pianists' Peter Dickinson, Independent

'John Ogdon led one of the most brilliant and yet most hauntingly tragic lives in the late twentieth century. No more technically or gifted British pianist ever lived… this book offers so much more...


Marketing Plan

Charles is available for interview and PR

Charles is available for interview and PR


Available Editions

EDITION Hardcover
ISBN 9780857200112
PRICE £20.00 (GBP)