"First Nights isa brilliant essay in synthesis, continuously alert to those extramusical pressures, exerted by everything from snobbery and bureaucracy to sex and ambition, that added their burdens of stress to the birth of these musical masterpieces. . . . With its abundant portfolios of documents and sensitively chosen illustrations, this is the kind of book that has us crying, ... Read more'Oh, that we were there!'"—Jonathan Keates, The New York Times Book Review "First Nights presentsa mass of technical information in an unusually accessible way. The book is always enjoyable."—Judith Weir, Times Literary Supplement "Kelly . . . is something of a rarity—an academic who can tell a good story. . . . Kelly’s inclusion of relevant documents—letters, newspaper clippings, long-ago interviews, ticket counts—and the list of recommended recordings help make First Nights abook that should prove engrossing to general reader and specialist alike."—Tim Page, Washington Post Book World "A unique and extremely attractive account of the premieres of five musical masterpieces spanning from 1607 to 1913. . . . Kelly paints a vivid and fascinating picture of each premiere by combining information taken from a number of sources, including letters, archival documents, and observations of the music itself. This should appeal to all music lovers."—Library Journal (starred review) "This is a beautiful book (and, incidentally, a reasonably price one), whether it is approached as a textbook or as enjoyable reading for educational amateurs. . . . First Nights willserve as a fine resource for professors and graduate students and, perhaps more important, as a strong example of a different approach to music appreciation: it is a model of context-based, rather then the more traditional theme-harmony-and-form-based, understanding. I know of no other work that seeks to combine music appreciation, source readings in music history, and program notes in this way, and it is a lively mix indeed."—Jonathan Bellman, Notes Named a Notable Book for 2000 by the New York Times Book Review "Kelly’s engaging, fast-paced narrative makes music, an ineffable art, come alive for the general reader. This is a book that anyone with an interest in the arts can read and enjoy."—Craig Wright Show Less