In revealing and genuine interviews, Larry Ruttman converses with world-renowned musicians of the 21st century and engages them in an approachable manner. Dive into the recesses of their minds to discover the influences and inspiration behind classical music and other popular genres such as pop, jazz, folk, Americana, and many other genres impacting today’s musical culture. Perfect for dedicated fans, determined students, and the casually interested listener to music of all genres, Intimate Conversations: Face to Face with Matchless Musicians is sure to inspire, fascinate, and entertain.
“compelling … for classical music aficionados” —Kirkus Reviews
“Libraries seeking close inspections of classical music’s contemporary meaning will want to make Intimate Conversations a foundation acquisition for any serious music library.” —Midwest Book Review
“An interesting anthology of interviews, and one which stands out for its thoroughness and its offering of an impressive range of voices while still maintaining a clear focus in each straightforward interview. Each musician’s personality and philosophy emerges naturally and reads as a standalone. … Ruttman’s ability to simply allow the interviews and work to speak for themselves is the book’s greatest strength. Overall, the collection offers a rare, authentic look at musicians not just as performers, but as thinkers, teachers, and citizens of the world.” —Asher Syed, Readers’ Favorite
“Through one-on-one interviews, Ruttman crafts a mosaic of musical insight, capturing the personal journeys, philosophies, and artistic wisdom of composers, conductors, instrumentalists, and vocalists. The book isn’t just about music, it’s about the people behind it, their struggles, inspirations, and lifelong relationships with sound. … these conversations are raw, revealing, and refreshingly unscripted .” —Literary Titan
“The resulting interviews and details contain therein are absolutely fascinating, as well as impossible to find anywhere else.” —Neil Rutman, DMA, author of Stories, Images, and Magic from the Piano Literature
“Larry Ruttman’s Intimate Conversations: Face to Face with Matchless Musicians opens a fascinating window into the lives and creative processes of some of the leading music-makers of our time. Erudite, inquisitive, and gifted with the ability to put his illustrious subjects at ease, Larry elicits heartfelt and strikingly candid interviews. Any reader of these in-depth encounters with great musicians is certain to gain a new understanding and appreciation of their artistry.” —Renée Fleming, American actress and soprano, five-time Grammy Award Winner
“Through these in-depth and utterly engaging interviews, Larry Ruttman has succeeded in revealing an intricate web of the musical mentors who have influenced the people portrayed in this delightful book. It’s like an official reference book for the musical world over the past hundred years. No lover of classical music will want to be without it.” —Benjamin Zander, Conductor of the Boston Philharmonic Orchestra and The Boston Philharmonic Youth Orchestra
