Life and Music: A Memoir
by Idil Biret
The extraordinary life of one of the world’s greatest pianists — in her own words.
Idil Biret made her debut at age five, studied under Alfred Cortot and Nadia Boulanger in Paris, and went on to perform with the world’s leading orchestras across six decades. Her memoir reveals a generous musician who is at once brilliant, humane, and spiritually inquisitive.
"A deep pleasure for lovers of memoir and music alike " — Mary Owen
Ships June 15. Pre-publication offer: half price… Order today. Every book helps support the Idil Biret Education Initiative.
$35
$17.50
- 350 pages, Hardbound — Pre-pub price
- Photos, letters and exhibits from the Idil Biret Archive
- Ideal gift for music lovers in your life
Shipping: US and Canada $8: International $20
Your purchase directly supports music education for coming generations.
About LIFE AND MUSIC
From her childhood prodigy years in Ankara to the concert halls of Paris and London, Vienna and New York, Shanghai and Sydney, Idil Biret’s memoir chronicles a life shaped by extraordinary talent, fierce dedication, and unwavering faith in the power of music to bring people together.
“Music lovers: Play it forward! You carry the best of human culture to future generations.” — Idil Biret
Life and Music: A Memoir describes Idil’s formation as an artist under Mithat Fenmen, Nadia Boulanger, Alfred Cortot, and Wilhelm Kempff. Her American debut with the Boston Symphony Orchestra in 1963 was the afternoon of the Kennedy assassination. “A great healing took place as Miss Biret lifted our hearts above the mists; clouds parted; great shafts of light poured through as she evoked the passion and ardor of Rachmaninoff’s sweeping themes,” wrote The Christian Science Monitor.
Certainly one of the most gifted pianists of this century or the last, her life of constant travel for performances and masterclasses engaged Idil with people around the world. Her cultural insights derive from humane values and her deep reading of history and literature. This book will be a pleasure for lovers of memoir and music alike.
Richly illustrated and elegantly written, Life and Music: A Memoir is essential reading for anyone who cares about classical music, about the art of the piano, or about what it means to dedicate your life to art.
About idil Biret Education Initiative
Idil Biret Education Initiative (IBEI) is a Pennsylvania 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to preserving Idil Biret’s legacy and supporting music education for coming generations. All proceeds from book sales support publications and programs in music education.