The Song of Names Audiobook, by Norman Lebrecht Play Audiobook Sample

The Song of Names Audiobook

The Song of Names Audiobook, by Norman Lebrecht Play Audiobook Sample
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Read By: Simon Prebble Publisher: Highbridge Audio Listen Time: at 1.0x Speed 6.50 hours at 1.5x Speed 4.88 hours at 2.0x Speed Release Date: April 2012 Format: Unabridged Audiobook ISBN: 9781615735594

Quick Stats About this Audiobook

Total Audiobook Chapters:

13

Longest Chapter Length:

76:28 minutes

Shortest Chapter Length:

15:40 minutes

Average Chapter Length:

44:59 minutes

Audiobooks by this Author:

3

Other Audiobooks Written by Norman Lebrecht: > View All...

Publisher Description

Martin Simmond’s father tells him, “Never trust a musician when he speaks about love.” The advice comes too late. Martin already loves Dovidl Rapoport, an eerily gifted Polish violin prodigy whose parents left him in the Simmonds’s care before they perished in the Holocaust. For a time the two boys are closer than brothers. But on the day he is to make his official debut, Dovidl disappears. Only 40 years later does Martin get his first clue about what happened to him.

In this ravishing novel of music and suspense, Norman Lebrecht unravels the strands of love, envy and exploitation that knot geniuses to their admirers. In doing so he also evokes the fragile bubble of Jewish life in prewar London; the fearful carnival of the Blitz, and the gray new world that emerged from its ashes. Bristling with ideas, lambent with feeling, The Song of Names is a masterful work of the imagination.

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"It started slow but the tension is building as you try to figure out where the author is going with it. Set in the time of the Gulp War with flashes back to England during WWII. Very intriguing and haunting but not very plausible. I enjoyed reading it anyway. "

— Susan (4 out of 5 stars)

The Song of Names Listener Reviews

Overall Performance: 3.92307692307692 out of 53.92307692307692 out of 53.92307692307692 out of 53.92307692307692 out of 53.92307692307692 out of 5 (3.92)
5 Stars: 9
4 Stars: 9
3 Stars: 6
2 Stars: 1
1 Stars: 1
Narration: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 (0.00)
5 Stars: 0
4 Stars: 0
3 Stars: 0
2 Stars: 0
1 Stars: 0
Story: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 (0.00)
5 Stars: 0
4 Stars: 0
3 Stars: 0
2 Stars: 0
1 Stars: 0
Write a Review
  • Overall Performance: 1 out of 51 out of 51 out of 51 out of 51 out of 5

    " I thought this book was garbage. Very disappointing. "

    — Cami, 2/10/2014
  • Overall Performance: 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5

    " I think this book tries to be too many things. Some of them (a story of Jewish life and inter-communal pressures, an interesting discussion of class in Britain, a look at xenophobia during the war in Britain) it does well. Others (a story about likable people who do bad things or blame others for their problems) it doesn't do in such a winning manner. Overall, enjoyable. Would I read it again or recommend it? Not unless I knew a Yiddish speaking prodigy who'd relate. "

    — Shiri, 1/22/2014
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " Sparkling and captivating story about a musical prodigy and the family who cares for and is devastated by him. "

    — Marla, 12/24/2013
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " 3.5: I liked this one for the period detail of London during WWII, and for the examination of the business side of classical music. I found the pacing a little uneven, though, and the narration pedantic. "

    — Erin, 12/19/2013
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " I really liked this book...very thought-provoking. I had a hard time getting into it at first, but by the middle I was very into it. "

    — Sue, 12/8/2013
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " "Song of Names" tells the story of the Holocaust through the lives of two men. It's a captivating mystery with well constructed characters. "

    — Katy, 11/26/2013
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " This book surprised me by it's manner of changing directions each time I thought I knew where it was headed. The tone is rather wistful, which suits the topic. The setting is well laid and the characters quite interesting. "

    — Linda, 11/4/2013
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " A mystery with a wonderful twist, cultural insight and a sombre reminder made for a great read. The relationships were quire interesting to folliow and relate to. "

    — Seymour, 10/8/2013
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " As a classically trained musician I absolutely loved the musical descriptions in this book--the story itself was fascinating --loved this book!! "

    — Eva, 9/12/2013
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " a book you must read! "

    — Michal, 7/8/2013
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " It started slow but the tension is building as you try to figure out where the author is going with it. Set in the time of the Gulp War with flashes back to England during WWII. Very intriguing and haunting but not very plausible. I enjoyed reading it anyway. "

    — Susan, 7/4/2013
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " Engaging story for both mystery and history lovers. "

    — Debbie, 3/10/2013
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " The book started out very slow, but the end was great. "

    — Trisha, 1/10/2013
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " Loved the glimpse into the jewish community, the lives of classical music big wigs. Very memorable. "

    — Kit, 10/15/2012
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " Confusing book, had both good parts and boring parts. "

    — Christy, 10/7/2012
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " Beautiful. A real page-turner. Recommended. "

    — Ro_runner, 5/20/2012
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " outstanding.keeps up the tension to the end.how two different worlds find a common theme "

    — Cyril, 3/23/2012
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " Extremely interesting WW11 novel of music and suspense! "

    — Elisa, 2/6/2012
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " This book started out so slowly that I almost gave up a few times. I'm glad that I didn't. The more the book becomes about the transcendence of music and real and imagined betrayals, the better. By the time the book revealed the meaning of its title, I was glad that I stuck it out. "

    — Jeanne, 12/16/2011
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " Extremely interesting WW11 novel of music and suspense! "

    — Elisa, 8/8/2011
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " This book surprised me by it's manner of changing directions each time I thought I knew where it was headed. The tone is rather wistful, which suits the topic. The setting is well laid and the characters quite interesting. "

    — Linda, 7/29/2011
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " I really liked this book...very thought-provoking. I had a hard time getting into it at first, but by the middle I was very into it. "

    — Sue, 6/18/2009
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " A mystery with a wonderful twist, cultural insight and a sombre reminder made for a great read. The relationships were quire interesting to folliow and relate to. "

    — Seymour, 8/4/2008
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " 3.5: I liked this one for the period detail of London during WWII, and for the examination of the business side of classical music. I found the pacing a little uneven, though, and the narration pedantic. "

    — Erin, 1/28/2008
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " outstanding.keeps up the tension to the end.how two different worlds find a common theme "

    — Cyril, 12/31/2007
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " Loved the glimpse into the jewish community, the lives of classical music big wigs. Very memorable. "

    — Kit, 6/30/2007

About Norman Lebrecht

Norman Lebrecht is the world’s bestselling author on classical music. His Whitbread Award-winning novel, The Song of Names, is the basis of an acclaimed feature film. Aside from the history of Western music, he has a lifelong passion for the culture and chronicles of the Jewish people and is the author of Genius & Anxiety.

About Simon Prebble

Simon Prebble, a British-born performer, is a stage and television actor and veteran narrator of some three hundred audiobooks. As one of AudioFile’s Golden Voices, he has received thirty-seven Earphones Awards and won the prestigious Audie in 2010. He lives in New York.