Those bewitched by Tomes's three previous books can prepare for bewitchment all over again ... Fascinating and revealing insights into the business of being expected to memorise music in the solo context ... Editor's Choice [Five Stars]
CLASSICAL MUSIC
[Susan Tomes's] penetrating intelligence is refreshing in a discourse often reduced to cliché and lazy generalisation ... One has only to think of Tomes's exceptional playing to understand why her faith still burns bright. [Four stars]
BBC MUSIC MAGAZINE
Sleeping in Temples is a captivating reverie of a book.
INTERNATIONAL PIANO
A book that exudes the same warmth and passion for her subject, and life in general, that shines through her much-admired work as a solo and ensemble pianist.
THE SCOTSMAN
It is exactly these kind of insights that can give audiences a sense of the musician as human ... And it's exactly why candid books like Sleeping in Temples are so necessary.
THE HERALD
I don't usually 'judge a book by its cover', but in this case the cover is a lovely place to start...it's beautiful and credited as a photograph by the author, Susan Tomes. Initially unsure whether the book would be a group of lectures, anecdotes or theories, I ended up feeling I had had a few wonderful conversations, full of humour and insight, a very rewarding read...This is not a solid, solemn book. Anything but.
LONDON CHAMBER MUSIC SOCIETY NEWSLETTER
There is a clarity and directness to this book that opens it to music lovers and makes it useful for performers. The writing is full of vivid anecdotes and Tomes proves herself to be a master storyteller throughout.Tomes's dedication to her art is a message to us all.
SCOTTISH JOURNAL OF PERFORMANCE
Stimulating, insightful, full of ideas and passing anecdotes ... on events drawn from her long career, Tomes brings to the page the same care, fastidious attention to detail and immaculate phrasing that she brings to her keyboard-playing.
GRAMOPHONE
[Tomes] has put in print many of the important thoughts that are in the forefront of a performer's mind and in doing so has left a legacy for the next generation to read and explore. Recommended.
CHOICE
Christmas Books Choice,
BBC MUSIC MAGAZINE
Top Ten Books of the Year,
CLASSICAL MUSIC
One of the Books of the Year, Sheena MacDonald -
THE HERALD
Recommended by Alex Ross
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