{"product_id":"9781743820209","title":"Symphony of Seduction: The Great Love Stories of Classical Composers","description":"\u003ci\u003eThe orchestra has tuned, the lights in the hall have dimmed, and the conductor’s baton signals the downbeat for the beginning of the romance. Settle back – it’s telling you something…\u003c\/i\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e The history of classical music is littered with murder, adultery, bigamy, fraud, sado-masochism, riches, poverty, gluttony, nervous breakdowns, bizarre behaviour and terrible, terrible toilet humour (Mozart was the prime exponent of the latter). Classical music \u003ci\u003e–nice?\u003c\/i\u003e Not at all. It’s the most immediate expression of mental and emotional extremes: often deceptive, sometimes dangerous and frequently a discomforting revelation. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003ci\u003eSwooning\u003c\/i\u003e documents the all too human flaws in the lives of the great composers by loosely following the sequence of emotions as experienced in a love affair – one that doesn’t work out, of course. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e In this fully revised and updated edition, Christopher Lawrence leads us through the listening experience, from anger and Beethoven to sadness and Tchaikovsky, triumph and Wagner and freedom and Mozart – it’s all here in this whimsical guide to the conduct of a romance, with some handy hints on how to make it more, well, harmonious. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e One of Australia’s favourite radio personalities, Christopher Lawrence boasts a career spanning more than 40 years of broadcasting. He is best known for his work with ABC Classic FM, presenting the network’s \u003ci\u003eBreakfast\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eDrive\u003c\/i\u003e programs between 1994 and 2001. Three of the \u003ci\u003eSwoon\u003c\/i\u003e CDs that evolved out of his \u003ci\u003eBreakfast\u003c\/i\u003e program broke sales records in the Australian classical music industry, each achieving Platinum status. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e As an orchestral and opera recording producer Christopher has been awarded an International Emmy for Performing Arts, three ARIA Awards, a Churchill Fellowship, and the Editors’ Choice Award at the Cannes Classical Awards in France. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Christopher has written three best-selling books: \u003ci\u003eSwooning; Hymns of the Forefathers\u003c\/i\u003e, based on his documentary series about the history of hymns seen on ABC TV; and \u003ci\u003eSwing Symphony\u003c\/i\u003e. He can be heard on ABC Classic FM from 9 a.m. to midday presenting \u003ci\u003eMornings.\u003c\/i\u003e","brand":"Schwartz Books Pty. Ltd.","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47131332837616,"sku":"9781743820209","price":16.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0737\/7593\/9824\/files\/9781743820209_p0.jpg?v=1763705026","url":"https:\/\/shop-qa.barnesandnoble.com\/products\/9781743820209","provider":"Barnes \u0026 Noble (DEV)","version":"1.0","type":"link"}