A musical outing

From: The Spectator | Date: August 8, 1998| Author: | Copyright information

VIRGIL THOMSON: COMPOSER ON THE AISLE

by Anthony Tommasini

W.W. Norton & Co., L22.50, pp. 605

'As soon as Lou Rispoli came back from lunch, he knew he was in for it.' The opening paragraph of Anthony Tommasini's book found me nervously checking that I hadn't reached for a thriller rather than the authorised biography of a celebrated composer. But no. Here is Lou's employer, Virgil Thomson, almost 90 and still formidable, standing tensely near the ebony table ready to pounce. He had found out about his birthday surprise and was not pleased.

Poor Lou, despite being 'a solid, gregarious ...

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