From Publishers Weekly

Though best known for his political writings (Orientalism), Said was also, from 1986 until his death in 2003, the music critic for the Nation, and this collection draws together reviews from that publication and other magazines. Said had very firm opinions and lashed out against New York City's classical music scene in the 1980s and early '90s for producing safe but grimly uninteresting performances and repertories. Instead of simply blaming the intellectual cowardice of most contemporary musicians, however, he was able to provide detailed technical critiques of a conductor's handling of a Beethoven symphony or a singer's inadequacies in a Wagnerian role. Glenn Gould's intellectualized style of playing was a source of fascination to the critic, and new biographies or films about the pianist would inevitably draw his attention. Said also writes about his friendship with Daniel Barenboim (who contributes an introduction), which leads to one of the few discussions of Middle Eastern politics; a review of the controversial opera The Death of Klinghoffer sparks another. For the most part, however, his attention is strictly on the music, and he proves himself to have been astute and passionately engaged. (Nov.)

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作者简介

萨义德，1935年生于巴勒斯坦的耶路撒冷，接受过英式教育，取得哈佛大学博士学位，哥伦比亚大学英文系与比较文学系教授，担任The Nation杂志乐评，著作等身，包括《乡关何处》（又译《格格不入》）、《文化与帝国主义》、《东方主义》。他由哥伦比亚大学出版社出版的著作包括《康拉德与自传小说》、《人文主义与民主的批评》、《开始：意图与方法》、《音乐的阐释》及《并行与吊诡》。2003年逝于纽约。

译者简介

彭淮栋，1953年生。译有《后殖民理论》（Bart Moore-Gilbert）、《意义》（博蓝尼）、《俄国思想家》（以撒•柏林）、《自由主义之后》（华勒斯坦）、《西方政治思想史》（麦克里兰）、《乡关何处》（萨义德）、《现实意义》（以撒•柏林）、《贝多芬：阿多诺的音乐哲学》（阿多诺）、《美的历史》和《丑的历史》（艾可）等书。