My Musical Life

In the opening pages we step into a vivid childhood set against the tumult of the Austro‑Prussian war. Born in Breslau in 1862, the narrator recalls floral‑filled rooms, a tragic loss, and the startling sight of Prussian generals marching past a boy clutching a bouquet. Amid the chaos, his mother’s love of plants and music creates a sanctuary where the young family watches triumphant troops and even offers a wreath to the king’s horse.

The household is a magnet for the era’s greatest musicians—Liszt, Wagner, Bülow and others—who linger over apple pudding and heated philosophical debates. Tiny details, from a broken guest‑room bed to a sweet‑seasoned hare, give the memoir its intimate charm, while the narrator’s early fascination with Homer hints at a lifelong devotion to art. Listeners will be drawn into a world where war, laughter, and soaring melodies intertwine, setting the stage for a remarkable musical journey.