50 Musical Masterpieces. A Popular History of Classical Music

Olga Leonenkova – musicologist, author of the popular channel Kultshpargalka on Zen. The democratic format, light style, and a lot of interesting information about classical music and musicians have attracted a large audience to her blog. One of the angles of Kultshpargalka – an overview of well-known musical compositions – has become the basis of this book. In what life circumstances did great composers create their most recognizable works? What is the secret of their irresistible appeal to millions of people around the world? And what are the mechanisms of popularity based on? In this book, you will find fascinating stories about the works of Bach, Beethoven, Tchaikovsky, Vivaldi, Prokofiev, and other famous composers. Each chapter is a short novella about one of the classical masterpieces, the music of which anyone can say they have heard somewhere. By the way, you can listen to all these compositions without closing the book: at the beginning of the chapters, there is a QR code that will lead you to a video with music. You do not need to be well-versed in the world of classical music to read 50 musical masterpieces. The author offers to go through its first level together, necessary for any culturally-minded person interested in developing their musical erudition. The book can be read together with children.