Mozart in the Jungle: An Exploration of Classical Music, Sex, and Drugs

Lezlie: I bought this book after seeing the Netflix series also titled "Mozart in the Jungle". The series lead me to wonder what the full story of Haley of the series, was. I knew that the Netflix story was based at least in part on fact, and I wanted more of those facts. As I began to read the book (which is nicely written and pulls the reader into the tale immediately), I realized that I was definitely reading about Haley's (or Blair's) life journey. The book seems to be part autobiographical and part historical in terms of the chronicle of classical music in the US. With this crossover and the adept way that Blair Tindall expresses herself, the read was interesting and informative. I never had an impression that people who went into music had an easy go of it economically, but this book spelled that out in spades and pointed out how unfair and divisive the classical music system is that the musicians are paid pennies compared to the conductors who would be nothing without the diligent work of the musicians. And then there is simply Blair, who grew up without a lot of guidance from her family although much care, and hung onto music as her float to try to get through life only to find...

United States on Jul 28, 2023

Katie: <strong>Still Relevant, Revelatory, and Reminiscent 20 Years On</strong>

Following Blair Tindall’s recent passing, I was reminded of my plan to take a second read through this book, and I’m pleased to say that the reasons why it was an important read have stood the test of time even 20 years after its initial publication.

Tindall’s unvarnished point of view on the ins and outs on the life of a freelance musician offer one of the more forthright accounts of the less dreamy aspects of working in classical music, and despite the sensationalization of her depictions of a life fueled by sex, alcohol and passion for the work and those who do it, one of the most important parts of this book has always been her recounting of the history and rise and fall of classical music’s cultural caché in the twentieth century as well as the realities of living that path.

The point of the book is not really now, nor has it ever really been, that she used sexual relationships to get work in the industry (she did, and yes, that is a real thing that happens in the industry despite some of the Pollyanna-ish and prudish protests from those in it) and certainly not...

United States on Jun 04, 2023

Arge: Muy acertado en su moraleja.

Mexico on Sep 22, 2022

Cicero: I bought the book after watching the TV series. This book is really two different, but intertwined, accounts. One is the personal experience of the author, and the other is of the post WWII cultural expectations of the USA. Especially on how the Arts is used as a form of tax relief for the wealthy at the expense of the musicians creating the art.

It also brings home the sad reality of the health service in the USA.

United Kingdom on Jun 15, 2021

Herbert F. Myers: If you have come to this book from the Amazon Original Series you need to know that the series IS just BASED on this book. There is little similarity. That being said, the book by itself is a mixed bag. "Sex, Drugs, and Classical Music" play a part, but the book is more personal biography than orchestral expose. Some names are changed, to protect the guilty I suspect, and those not changed, at least those you really want to know more about, play a small part only. I was hoping for more insight into the conductors and players themselves, especially where the music is concerned, but soon came to realize that music was secondary to the personal trials and tribulations of the author and her acquaintances. Unfortunately, at least for the creation of this book, their lives were fairly ordinary and uneventful. The affairs, casual sex, weed and cocaine use, and misfortunes of life that might be interesting if we were reading of John Kennedy or, in the musical venue, Leonard Bernstein, here are nothing more than anecdotes about the semi-ordinary lives of classical musicians. At least their lives came across as that. Though at times interested, I often found myself skipping pages looking...

United States on Jan 24, 2021

SamsonCharette: Many of us think of classical musicians as superior in the cultural arena. This book clearly shows a business that has been mismanaged, that is full of overpaid divas -musicians and managers- and overcrowded with musicians that find themselves stucked in a repetitive an at times unsatisfying profession

Canada on Nov 02, 2019

Liesel: Lo compré después de ver la primera temporada de la serie con el mismo nombre creyendo que sería más parecido a ella pero nada que ver. A pesar de ello me encantó. Cuenta una historia de la música clásica poco visualizada y desde una perspectiva interna que merece mucho la pena leer. Lo recomiendo totalmente.

Spain on Mar 25, 2018

The.LivesofPeople: This is a fun book! I bought this after watching the Amazon TV series of the same name which was based on this. I enjoyed both but there are things on this book the series could never have expressed. The world behind classical music is brought out with such honesty and vigour that it's hard not to learn from the experiences of master writer and musician. As they say... the back alleys of classical music is painted in this recollection of Blair Tindall.

India on May 20, 2017