The King of Violins The Extraordinar..., M.G. Crisci
The King of Violins The Extraordinar..., M.G. Crisci
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The King of Violins: The Extraordinary Life of China's Greatest Violin Virtuoso

Author: M.G. Crisci

Narrator: Veleka Gray

Unabridged: 6 hr 13 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 10/10/2021


Synopsis

HOW CHINA'S MOST CELEBRATED VIOLIN PRODIGY BECAME AN ENEMY OF STATE.

The King of Violins is the heartbreaking story of China's most celebrated violin prodigy, Ma Sicong, who composed his first concerto at the age of 12.

During his career, this gentle, dignified man composed 57 of the world's best-known symphonies and concertos and performed in front of hundreds of sold-out audiences across the globe.

Chairman Mao Zedong declared Ma Sicong "a national treasure" and nicknamed him The King of Violins. Soon, Chairman Mao's brutal Cultural Revolution distorted the truth of Ma's life and work. He is forced to wear a dunce cap, and is publicly humiliated and physically abused by cadres of Red Guards as "a vile product of bourgeois thinking."

Ma and his family make a breath-taking escape in the darkness to America. After Chairman Mao died in 1976, the real circumstances of Ma's poignant, bittersweet life were buried in the pages of history by an embarrassed Chinese government. Eleven years later, Ma died at the age of 76 in Philadelphia.

The King of Violins, written in cooperation with all of Ma's remaining family members, and is the first politically balanced life story about this generous, conflicted musical genius.

(Contains 89 rare vintage photographs).

Reviews

Goodreads review by Sarah

'The King of Violins' is an extremely interesting portrait of the life, and achievements, of virtuoso violinist Ma Sicong. I listened to the audiobook narrated by Veleka Gray. I found it an absolutely fascinating insight into musical genius, but also the political history of China. I'm so glad that......more

Goodreads review by Liz

“The King of Violins” is a compelling story written by M.G. Crisci. This novel tells the story of one of the best violinists in China, Ma Sicong. Life has never been easy for him. Ma and his family had to say goodbye to their country and they had to move to America, escaping from the leader Mao Zedo......more

Wonderfully Written An extraordinary tale about an extraordinary man, The King of Violins takes us on a journey starting in Ma Sicong’s childhood. His father was a scholar and his mother, aside from being a housewife, was also musically inclined as well as a storyteller. His mother also did many thin......more

Goodreads review by Claudia

4.5 stars I thoroughly enjoyed this biography. I listened to the audio version. The story is told in the first person from the POV of the subject, a male violin virtuoso. The narrator for this audiobook is a woman. For me, this did not work. I would rather hear a male voice speaking from the POV of a......more

A breath-taking and absorbing true story. It is engaging to read and learn about different topics. This time I decided to read the book “The King of Violins” written by M.G.Crisci and Cheng Ken Chi. It is the true story of one the most famous Chinese violist, Ma. Sicong. He is well-known not only fo......more