The Inspired (Paperback) (ISBN-13: 9789655976694)

When humanity descends into the abyss, can music even mean anything?

Russian piano prodigy Lillya is studying in America, with one dream. To compete in the world's top piano contest, the International Tchaikovsky Competition, held in Moscow. But first, her distinguished teacher Professor Dayan has a highly unusual assignment. To delve into the past to research a piano superstar of yesteryear - America's legendary contender for the first-ever Tchaikovsky, the handsome and enigmatic Van Cliburn. She must uncover his amazing journey into enemy territory at the height of the Cold War, to truly understand her own calling. But was Cliburn really everything he seemed? Meanwhile, across the world, Russian missiles are being pointed at Kyiv.

Stretching across nearly seventy years, The Inspired weaves through the riveting, connected stories of these three pianists - Lillya, Professor Dayan and Van Cliburn - as each is forced to confront their deepest-held beliefs, and a world out of harmony.

The author of six previous books, James Inverne is an award-winning arts journalist (formerly the Editor, Gramophone Magazine; Performing Arts Correspondent, TIME Magazine; arts reporter, Sunday Telegraph, Mail On Sunday, Wall Street Journal), playwright (A Walk With Mr Heifetz - Off-Broadway; That Bastard, Puccini! - London) and screenwriter (two Cities That Sing features starring Renee Fleming - IMAX Entertainment etc.).

"James Inverne's The Inspired is a brilliant achievement: Inverne is a wonderfully compelling writer whose voice is deeply infused with a warm and generous humanity. His story-telling is tellingly informed by an insider status in the classical music world that never loses sight of the universality of human experience. Drawing from history and current world events, The Inspired is truly a work that helps us understand the tumultuous times we are experiencing today. Not to be missed." - Alan Gilbert, conductor (Principal Conductor, NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchestra; Music Director, Royal Swedish Opera; former Music Director, New York Philharmonic Orchestra)

"Meticulously researched, a timely and fascinating story about the complicated relationship between music and politics. The way in which Inverne imaginatively weaves together past and present, fact and fiction, is, itself, inspired."

- Alexandra Wilson, author of Someone Else's Music

"An irresistible, brilliantly written and constructed novel. Inverne writes accessibly, with both brilliance and erudition. His story of the enigmatic genius that was Van Cliburn encapsulates the powerful emotions and sheer joy that music-making at its best can bring, and shows the need for the humanity required to succeed. By way of contrast, Inverne's contemporary parallel demonstrates all too clearly the destructive fallout that inevitably follows the brutal inhumanity we have seen recently. This book will be treasured by music lovers and will appeal to a wide public." - Ivor Bolton, conductor (Chief Conductor, Sinfonieorchester Basel; Music Director, Teatro Real, Madrid)

"The Inspired is both a gripping evocation of pianist Van Cliburn's legendary exploits in the 1958 Tchaikovsky Competition and a reflection on the place of music in the real world. A brilliantly original and thought-provoking reflection on identity, hate, politics and war." - Stephen Pollard, newspaper columnist; former Editor, The Jewish Chronicle

"A book that explores the hopes and dreams of those who make music, and the pain of those who want music to change our world" - Mona Golabek, author of The Children of Willesden Lane