Bohemian fifths: an autobiography

Bohemian fifths: an autobiography by Henze, Hans Werner, Illustrated. hardcover edition. ISBN: 9780571178155.

It comes as no surprise that Hans Werner Henzes autobiography, like his music, is alternately elegant, dense, and humorous, with a clear love of history and classical beauty. Henze covers both his life and work through 1995; readers may find themselves looking back to Artur Rubinsteins My Young Years to find a musician who has written an autobiography with as much style. Of special interest is Henzes first detailed public comment on the events surrounding the notorious canceled premiere of Das Floss der Medusa. There is also a long sequence of diary entries from his second visit to Cuba. The diary format effectively conveys his initial excitement in the country, which clearly sets off his later disillusionment with Castro. Anecdotes about almost all of Henzes music abound, but the most interesting comments are about music in general--why he hates cello sonatas, why he likes to write for the guitar, why electronic music is unsuitable for ballet. Henze writes beautifully about Mozart ("the link between artistry and simplicity"), Mahler, William Walton, and the Naples debut of Maria Callas. There is a straightforward description of how he composes and a section describing the philosophy behind his festival at Montepulciano. Stewart Spencers translation is everywhere elegant. In Wiesbaden, we read, one finds "only old ladies with equally ancient hats and poodles." Readers who have come to Henzes music via the Grammy-nominated new recording of the ballet Undine will find helpful information on that work, both about the premiere production and a major revival in 1998. --William R. Braun