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Ms. Agus is the author of the memoirs Heifetz, As I Knew Him. Published by Amadeus Press, the book covers the last fifteen years of Heifetz' life as seen by his accompanist and collaborator.
In a series of chapters, most of whose titles borrow from musical nomenclature, Ms. Agus describes specific aspects of the master at work, practicing, his 'trade secrets' teaching, cajoling, inspiring, demanding and giving, all in an unusual admixture of traits which together combined and compounded this, most singular personality.
Book's chapters:Fanfare; Overture; Recitativo; Accompagnato; Exposition; Intermezzo; Preludium and Fugue Passagework; Development; Musica Disciplina; Sinfonia Domestica; Theme and Variations; Dies Irae; Threnody Postludium
Reviews of Heifetz, As I Knew Him:
How vividly the Heifetz of Agus'
memories is drawn! Agus' writing is fluid and elegant; sometimes perhaps a
little cool, but beautifully controlled. While I wished occasionally that she
would guard her emotions a little less, one couldn't ask for a more natural
storyteller or astute observer.
Our first privileged insight into the
life of a rigidly formal, exceedingly isolated - and impossibly difficult - human
being who happened to play the violin like an angel.... While this is a memoir,
rather than a full-fledged biography, Agus has brought us the sad, vivid story
of a solitary genius who came, played and conquered, again and again - and then
went home alone.
Ayke Agus's reminiscence, Heifetz
As I Knew Him, is among the most haunting portraits of an aging artist ever
written.
Agus documents valuable information
for musicians with details of Heifetz' teaching methods and attitude toward
performance, including his secrets of keeping audiences spellbound.
Buy the book Heifetz, As I Knew Him here or here
Copyright © 2003 by Ayke Agus. All rights reserved.
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Published
by Amadeus Press on 2 February 2001, to coincide with Heifetz' Centennial
celebrations, Ms Agus describes in her memoirs the unique experience of having
collaborated, played with and for and having looked after the violinist during
the last fifteen years of his life. That sometime joyful, often bittersweet and
the eventual sad end experience, is revisited and painted in front of the reader
in the most vivid, perceptive colors.