Playing with Fire: The Story of Maria Yudina, Pianist in Stalin's Russia (Hardback) - Elizabeth Wilson
Was £25
Now £20
You save £5
Enter your postcode and we'll provide you with your delivery & collection options.
- Free Delivery on orders over £50*
- Free Same Day Click & Collect
- Delivery: In stock
Shop more...
The first full biography of the fearless and brilliant Maria Yudina, a legendary pianist who was central to Russian intellectual life
Maria Yudina was no ordinary musician. An incredibly popular pianist, she lived on the fringes of Soviet society and had close friendships with such towering figures as Boris Pasternak, Pavel Florensky, and Mikhail Bakhtin. Legend has it that she was Stalin's favorite pianist.
Yudina was at the height of her fame during WWII, broadcasting almost daily on the radio, playing concerts for the wounded and troops in hospitals and on submarines, and performing for the inhabitants of besieged Leningrad. By the last years of her life, she had been dismissed for ideological reasons from the three institutions where she taught. And yet according to Shostakovich, Yudina remained "a special case. . . . The ocean was only knee-deep for her."
In this engaging biography, Elizabeth Wilson sets Yudina's extraordinary life within the context of her times, where her musical career is measured against the intense intellectual and religious ferment of the post-revolutionary period and the ensuing years of Soviet repression.
Maria Yudina was no ordinary musician. An incredibly popular pianist, she lived on the fringes of Soviet society and had close friendships with such towering figures as Boris Pasternak, Pavel Florensky, and Mikhail Bakhtin. Legend has it that she was Stalin's favorite pianist.
Yudina was at the height of her fame during WWII, broadcasting almost daily on the radio, playing concerts for the wounded and troops in hospitals and on submarines, and performing for the inhabitants of besieged Leningrad. By the last years of her life, she had been dismissed for ideological reasons from the three institutions where she taught. And yet according to Shostakovich, Yudina remained "a special case. . . . The ocean was only knee-deep for her."
In this engaging biography, Elizabeth Wilson sets Yudina's extraordinary life within the context of her times, where her musical career is measured against the intense intellectual and religious ferment of the post-revolutionary period and the ensuing years of Soviet repression.
About the Author
Elizabeth Wilson is a performer, teacher, and writer. She studied cello at the Moscow Conservatoire with Mstislav Rostropovich and is the author of biographies of Dmitri Shostakovich, Jacqueline du Pre, and Mstislav Rostropovich.- Contributor:
- Elizabeth Wilson
- Imprint:
- Yale University Press
- Publisher:
- Yale University Press
- Release Date:
- 01 Feb 2022
- Number of Pages:
- 352
- Binding:
- Hardback
- ISBN13:
- 9780300253931
Delivery
Options to suit you
At Jarrolds we want to ensure you get your order in the most convenient way for you, so we offer..
- Free standard delivery on most orders over £50*
- Express and Nominated options from £5.95*
- Free click and collect from our stores for many items
Help & Advice
Need extra help?
We're always happy to answer any questions or queries you might have, please get in touch using one of the methods below.
- Live chat
Monday to Friday (between 9.00am - 5.30pm) - Call us - 01603 660 661
- Email us here
Returns
How to return a purchase
At Jarrolds we want to ensure you're delighted with your order so if for any reason you are unhappy with your purchase, you can return most items to us in new and unused condition within 30 days of receiving them for a full refund*.