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A unique and beautiful portrait of Norway for her Centennial Celebration. Oslo in April Dr. John Slade
This novel, set in Norway, follows eight musicians from early morning on the first Saturday in April, to the symphony concert which they perform that evening in the Oslo Concert House. They live very different lives, and confront a range of challenges through the day, but each musician is directed toward that special moment in the evening when, together, they will enter the musical world which they deeply love. The reader follows each of these eight characters as they move, and interact, from dawn until the concert's finale. We meet: Johannes, the conductor, who wakes up alone because his wife has just left him. Devastated, he knows he cannot possibly conduct the orchestra that evening. Inger, the orchestra's first violinist, who never married so that she could devote her life to music. Voldemar, a young concert pianist from Tallinn, Estonia, ready to give his first performance in the West. |
Astrid, a cellist from Lillehammer, who will celebrate her 70th birthday today by playing an opening solo. Per Olaf, a trumpeter, who is both a renowned master of fanfares, and a born farmer. Eli Margrethe, a violinist and recent graduate from the College of Music, who is secretly composing her own symphony. Lillian, a flutist, who learns about her mother's devotion to her calling, and her tragic death. Bjørn, a timpanist, and Lillian's husband, who shares with her a search for a calling of their own. Each of these musicians prepares for a three-part concert that evening: Tchaikovsky's Sixth Symphony, a portrait of anguish; Rossini's William Tell Overture, a portrait of resilience; and Beethoven's Fifth Piano Concerto, a portrait of triumph. Oslo in April moves as well through these three stages. It is a story about people helping people, about people at their best. Review: Bob Spear Title: Oslo in April Rating: 5 hearts Wow, what a wonderfully touching positive story! Eight members of a fictional Oslo symphony orchestra live their lives throughout the day just prior to an important concert. One member, their conductor, has emotionally fallen apart because his wife has just left him for another man. His breakdown has affected the whole orchestra, but especially an important young Estonian guest piano soloist, who feels ignored and insulted. The author handles the interplay of their lives in a masterful manner. Each character becomes very real to the reader, contributing in small and not so small ways to the salvage of the conductor and the orchestra. The story is emotionally touching and leaves one with a sweet ah ha feeling at its end. The author was so bummed out by the start of the Iraqi war last year that he set out to write the most positive, uplifting story he could instead of whining about it. He succeeded beyond expectation. This is one of the more uplifting stories of the decade. We rated it five hearts. |
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