And from the LA Times back in March:
‘Magical Chorus‘ by Solomon Volkov
The Russian musicologist surveys Russian culture from Tolstoy to Solzhenitsyn.
By Martin Rubin, Special to The Times, March 7, 2008
“As its subtitle suggests, this engaging book, translated from its author’s mother tongue, Russian, into clear, elegant English, is sweeping in its scope.
“Clearly someone unafraid of biting off a lot, Solomon Volkov has done justice to his subject. Readers of his passionate study, ‘Shostakovich and Stalin,’ will not be surprised at the enormously high level of engagement he brings to this latest enterprise. The good news for them is that, four years on, he has shed some of the hothouse, insiderish manner that at times rendered the earlier book somewhat inaccessible to those less informed than he is about all things Russian. ‘The Magical Chorus’ is an ideal guide, clear but still subtle and nuanced, to the rich complexity of Russian culture, its splendors, controversies, achievements and tragedies throughout the 20th century….”
For the full review, click here or visit www.latimes.com.