ldquo;Visita al Padrerdquo; (Besuch bei dem Vater) egrave; unrsquo;opera pubblicata in Germania nel 2007; vincitrice del Nestroy-Theatrepreis. Racconta la storia di un giovane; Peter; che finalmente incontra il padre; creduto morto e mai conosciuto prima. Lrsquo;uomo; Heinrich; un intellettuale maturo che da anni lavora a una traduzione del Paradiso perduto di Milton; vive tra legami ambigui; circondato da sole donne. Una storia che si presenta come un brillante e originale sviluppo del tema edipico; quasi una tragedia. Usando Cechov per raccontare una storia di oggi; Schimmelpfennig ragiona sul concetto di memoria e della mancata ldquo;ereditagrave;rdquo; nel rapporto fra due generazioni. Un autore da conoscere e un testo da non perdere.
2014-01-13 2014-01-13File Name: B00HUFHD08
Review
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. . The price to be paid for excellenceBy Chicago BurbsTraditionally; iconic musicians arose by winning international competitions and justifying managers like Sol Hurok (who represented Artur Rubinstein) to promote their life-long careers. Lang Lang is a thirty-something concert pianist who has proved his excellence by winning the Moscow Tchaikovsky Competition (like Van Cliburn). He travels the world; gives master classes and plays concerts. Like most modern performers; he builds audiences via YouTube and sells recordings via .Lang Langs career started almost in infancy and this was; to me; the most interesting part of the book for two reasons: How would you handle a child like this? How did it happen that ordinary Chinese people knew so much about 19th century western music such that there was no problem finding teachers for him? Lang Lang had a demanding father whose only aim was to make him "number one" and a never-present mother who worked to pay the bills. He has never had; and will never have; a normal life. But; neither did other historic prodigies; like Mozart and Artur Rubinstein. This is what we do with our most gifted children and its a miracle when they become well-adjusted adults.3 of 3 people found the following review helpful. Powerful insights for young musiciansBy George R. CollisonHaving read many of the reviews posted here I must say Im much more deeply informed about the book and also about the background of musical training in China. I cannot give it five stars for the prose; I will give it five stars for the level of insight the volume brings to all levels of young musician. I strongly recommend it.The posts by the reviews with Asian backgrounds were particularly informative. This remarkable young man was only 22 at the time of publication of this volume. For young musicians it is a must read. The sentence structure is simple; vocabulary is not large. Two thirds of the way through one discovers; while studying at Curtis; he had received virtually no training in Beijing outside of music. History; beyond the confines of the Communist Chinese cannon; was unknown to him. Lang Lang devoured books on military and political history while at Curtis. He knew nothing about the worlds inhabited by Bach; Beethoven; Liszt and the other authors of this non-Chinese musical universe. He had no exposure to Western literature; and minimal exposure to Eastern writings beyond fables of the Monkey King. The concentration on piano must have been exceptionally intense; so far so obvious. What fascinates me is the volume of knowledge that was pushed to the side. The intensity of the study boggles the mind. I was also fascinated by how the spirit of this young man was able to fill so many holes; perhaps a Western term; in his education.Several Asian commentators highlighted the relationship with his father and the cathartic effect writing this book must have had for Lang Lang. He must have intended the volume as a mirror for other families engaged in this process. I must give him kudos for both this intention and the actual text he wrote. It is powerful. There are probably audiences that badly need this book that wont read it. Im thinking of parents of those young girls in beauty pageants; these cathedrals of vanity take over lives of any that enter. There seem to be countless other bastions we place around our talented; and untalented young; allegedly to "help them". Lang Lang was most fortunate to break through his to find the shining light of day. Mr. Graffman in later chapters punctures most effectively the vanity of "winning competitions" and "being number one". His advice and world view is most welcome.I am a big fan of Lang Lang. On hearing a concert I could only state that "this young man knows what freedom is". His playing of Liszt exudes energy and a passion for liberty in every bar.If you want reminiscences of a great pianist at the end of life; buy another book. If you want insights into the life of young artists in the current intense global competition; savor this one.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. anything can be endured if a child knows he is loved. He knew his parents loved himBy Lawson Book WormThis is a touching and endearing story of a little Chinese boys journey to become what was expected in the culture of that time; to be "number one"; winning competition after competition. Later; when he went to Curtis Institute in the U.S.; he was taught that it is the process to greatness that is the most important. Hard work to succeed is vital; but it is balance in a persons life that sustains a career. His father recognizes that he was abusive; and it grieves him. His mothers sacrifices to provide support was hard for a little boy to understand but; as Lang Lang said; once; anything can be endured if a child knows he is loved. He knew his parents loved him. Themes of love; hard work; honesty and healing run throughout this lovely little book. His parents remain an integral part of his career and life; and he is not only a brilliant pianist; but he gives back to society in his home country and abroad. Quite a testimony.
