Seeking the Infinite

Seeking the Infinite: The Musical Life of Stanislaw Skrowaczewski is the riveting biography of one of classical music’s most eminent artists. Like the legendary Leonard Bernstein, Skrowaczewski is one of the few conductor-composers of his generation whose achievements in both realms uphold a tradition reaching back to Mahler. Frederick Harris vividly details Skrowaczewski’s incredible life: his struggle for survival in Poland during World War II; his tenures as music director of the Minnesota Orchestra and Halle Orchestra; and his complex career as an internationally renowned conductor-composer. The book offers a behind-the-scenes view into the world of the professional orchestra and Skrowaczewski’s personal challenges and successes within that sphere. It also presents—for the first time—a comprehensive look at his compositions, approach to conducting, and celebrated recordings. More than a biography, Seeking the Infinite provides a cultural history of multiple countries spanning nearly ninety years. Skrowaczewski’s career has intersected with music’s most illustrious figures of the past: Boulanger, Shostakovich, Stravinsky, and Rubinstein, among others. Drawing upon hundreds of interviews with many of today’s greatest classical music artists, this book appeals to both general music lovers and seasoned professionals. Seeking the Infinite reveals why Stanislaw Skrowaczewski is among the most important—yet underappreciated—musicians of our time.