Old Friends and New Music

Nicolas Nabokov, a Russian-born composer and cultural diplomat, befriended many of the twentieth century’s greatest musicians and artists.

With delightful anecdotes and personal reflections, his memoir is a truly unique historical document that enriches our understanding of the Cold War’s impact on culture. He describes the strange genius of Diaghilev, for whom he wrote his first successful ballet; the tragic story of Nijinsky; Stravinsky’s music and manners; Koussevitzky’s fight for modern music; the personalities of Prokofiev and Shostakovich.

His wealth of connections and his authority gave him a special perspective on this dynamic period in music and politics. Above all, his “wise and witty” book, as W. H. Auden described it, is a tribute to enduring friendships and music’s transformative power.