The Lady from Arezzo

The title of this collection of essays refers to a tailor's mannequin that Alfred Brendel spotted in a shop window in Arezzo, a small Tuscan town. Who is this strange lady? What is she looking at? And why is she carrying an egg on her head? The mannequin now graces a room in the attic of Brendel's house in Hampstead. Her features convey great artistic seriousness in combination with absurd comedy: the epitome of his own musical and literary preferences. And so, in his delightful new collection, great masters of nonsense meet great masters of music.



Alfred Brendel was born in 1931 in Wiesenberg, and now lives in London. He is universally acknowledged as one of the world's leading pianists, and although he has bidden farewell to the concert stage he continues to give master-classes and readings. He is also the author of several books, including Alfred Brendel on Music (Robson Books), The Veil of Order and A Pianist's A-Z- both published by Faber.