Old Fogy: His Musical Opinions and Grotesques

A curiously animated portrait emerges of a man who spent his life on the piano bench and the page alike. Old Fogy is presented as a fiercely opinionated, ever‑changing critic whose love for Chopin sits alongside an unexpected affection for the more modest works of Dussek. His temperament is described as a “dynamic mosaic,” shifting from fierce denunciations of Wagner to sudden, private reverence for the very same music. The narrator’s recollections capture the pianist’s multilingual wit, his habit of launching into endless arguments, and the occasional flash of virtuosity that surprised even his closest friends.

The volume gathers these scattered essays, letters, and “grotesques” into a lively conversation about late‑nineteenth‑century music and its cultural context. Readers will hear a voice that swings between satire and sincere admiration, peppered with references to French literature, Hungarian heritage, and the bustling Philadelphia scene of his day. While the criticism is often sharp—bashing modern orchestras or applauding obscure composers—it is always coloured by a genuine, if mercurial, passion for the art. Listeners can expect an entertaining blend of humor, historical insight, and the occasional unexpected confession from a pianist who never quite fit into a single category.