Stravinsky: Chronicle of a Friendship

The standard biographical source for the last decades of Stravinsky’s life and a unique trove of primary material on twentieth-century cultural and intellectual history, now again available, in expanded form. For nearly the last twenty-five years of Igor Stravinsky’s incredibly full life, the noted musician, conductor, and writer Robert Craft was his closest colleague and friend, a trusted member of his household, and an important part of all of the composer’s activities. Throughout these years, Craft kept a detailed diary, impressive in its powers of observation and characterization. That diary forms the basis for Stravinsky: Chronicle of a Friendship, now released in a substantially revised and expanded new edition.

This edition includes nearly twice as many illustrations and more than 35% entirely new textual material. In addition, Craft adds an evocative Postlude in which he summarily brings matters forward to the death of Vera Stravinsky, several years after that of the Maestro.

Anyone interested in Stravinsky and his music, in Stravinsky’s relationship with Craft, and in many of the luminaries and landmarks of twentieth-century Western cultural history will find this book essential reading. Here are revealing glimpses of Stravinsky’s friendships and encounters with some of the great personages of twentieth-century culture, as well as intimate portraits of Stravinsky and Craft themselves.