Bản nhạc của Mozart

by Michael Morpurgo, Phạm Thị Hoàn (Translator)

Nữ phóng viên trẻ Lesley may mắn được cử đến Venice để phỏng vấn nghệ sĩ vĩ cầm lừng danh Paolo Levi. Cô được dặn có thể hỏi bất cứ điều gì về âm nhạc – trừ "câu hỏi về Mozart" từng khiến bao nhà báo đau đầu.

Cô không ngờ mình còn may mắn hơn khi chính Paolo Levi tự quyết định đã đến lúc kể hết câu chuyện xúc động về cuộc đời mình. Tại sao không bao giờ là Mozart? Âm nhạc có sức mạnh đến đâu khi người ta có thể dùng nó như vũ khí để sống sót, và giữ lấy trái tim cùng phẩm giá của mình.

Michael Morpurgo là nhà văn, nhà thơ Anh. Ông đã viết hơn 100 cuốn sách, được dịch ra 25 thứ tiếng và đoạt được nhiều giải thưởng uy tín. Trong số đó có tiểu thuyết "Chiến mã" nổi tiếng được Hollywood dựng thành phim.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Holocaust, Fiction, Historical, Childrens, Music, War

80 pages, Unknown Binding

First published January 1, 2007

About the author

Sir Michael Andrew Morpurgo, OBE, FRSL is the author of many books for children, five of which have been made into films. He also writes his own screenplays and libretti for opera. Born in St Albans, Hertfordshire, in 1943, he was evacuated to Cumberland during the last years of the Second World War, then returned to London, moving later to Essex. After a brief and unsuccessful spell in the army, he took up teaching and started to write. He left teaching after ten years in order to set up 'Farms for City Children' with his wife. They have three farms in Devon, Wales and Gloucestershire, open to inner city school children who come to stay and work with the animals. In 1999 this work was publicly recognised when he and his wife were invested a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for services to youth. In 2003, he was advanced to an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE). He became a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature (FRSL) in 2004. He was knighted in the 2018 for his services to literature and charity. He is also a father and grandfather, so children have always played a large part in his life. Every year he and his family spend time in the Scilly Isles, the setting for three of his books.

Reviews

[Krista the Krazy Kataloguer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of those books that could be an adult or a children's book. It opens with a reporter interviewing a violinist, and feels like an adult book. But when the violinist begins to speak of his boyhood, it feels like a children's book. Either way, it's good. I like the addition of full-page and double-page illustrations, with a shade of blue that lent an overall upbeat feel to the story despite its grim moments. I usually enjoy anything that Michael Morpurgo writes, and I'm pleased to say that this is no exception.

[EAK · Rating 4 out of 5]

This would be a great extended picture book to use during a Holocaust unit for middle schoolers or older. A beautiful story of family, secrets, and hope.

[Lynda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Michael Morpurgo is a master story-teller and manages to keep the reader hanging on to his words right up to the last pages. An excellent read and a highly recommended author.

[Neil R. Coulter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really nice story, told in a calm, laid-back style accompanied by evocative watercolor illustrations. It only hints at the bigger issues regarding concentration camps, but it brings up a number of unique questions about memory, emotions, and musical communication.

[Silvia Cachia]

This book is hard to read, but also a beautifully written book.

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unbelievably beautiful, moving story. It will take fifteen minutes to read-you'll remember it for the rest of your life. I don't want to give anything away, but I cried through the entire story. So touching.

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read it to your children if you can.

[Arminzerella · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lesley McInley gets the opportunity of a lifetime when she is asked to interview Paolo Levi, the famous violinist. He’s brilliantly talented, but very particular when it comes to talking about his personal life. Lesley is asked to avoid bringing up “the Mozart question” at all costs. When she meets Levi, however, she’s so nervous she begins to babble, “’Well, I know I can’t ask you the Mozart question, Signor Levi,’ I began, ‘because I’ve been told not to. I don’t even know what the Mozart question is, so I couldn’t ask it even if I wanted to, and anyway, I know you don’t like it, so I won’t.’” Although Levi has ended interviews in the past when journalists have asked him why he won’t play Mozart, he decides to tell his story at last – to Lesley. She (and we readers) learn that his parents were Holocaust survivors, musicians (violinists) whose lives were spared so that they could play to calm other Jews as they were put to death. Levi’s father vowed never to play again after his experiences in the concentration camp, but his son, Paolo, comes to love music and the violin as much as his parents once did after he meets and befriends Benjamin Horowitz, a violinist who plays the streets of Venice. Horowitz helps Paolo repair his mother’s violin and begins to teach him to play. Soon they are playing together. When Paolo comes clean about his secret lessons, his parents (and Benjamin) tell him their stories of survival. Although Paolo’s parents are extremely proud of him, his father asks him one favor – that he never play Mozart (the music they played most often in the concentration camp) while he is living – and Paolo keeps that promise.

I read this in about twenty minutes. Scholars of the Holocaust will point out its historical inaccuracies – men and women weren’t allowed to mix in the concentration camps, but it’s more than just the history – it’s also the tale of Paolo’s love for his music and his father. I was a little disappointed to discover that Paolo Levi wasn’t actually a famous violinist – I was ready to look for more biographical information about him (temperamental artist biographies are always entertaining). The actual horror of what the Jewish musicians in the concentration camp orchestras must have felt is something that Morpurgo only touches on here (shown mostly through Paolo’s father’s vehemence), so it’s gentle enough for children. But I was compelled to imagine what it must have been like for them – to have something they loved (music) corrupted by the Nazis in such a terrible way.

[Patricia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Is it a picture book? Is it a metaphor for adults? Is it a novella? Is it a memoir? Whatever, this book with its soft blue water color cover invited me into a quiet, focused, reflective read. It is so true to childhood experiences of sneaking into parents' memories, finding a treasure that the child assumes is forgotten or ignored by the parents. Yet, through the boy's curiosity and interest in music, a horrible story immerges. So many of the children's books present horrors of war and oppression in a very succinct way so that as adults we feel more anguish than a child might, but at the same time the child reader is made aware of the struggles people across the ages have experienced. In this very short book I was taken in by Papa and Mama and the way they made their way after the war experience. They did what parents do to make a good life for their children. In the end, they really wanted to share their experiences, their secret, with their child when he was ready. And he was ready once he felt the music.

Listening to Benjamin playing the violin in the street is a powerful image.

I read this on the L. As I got off I passed the man with a guitar case, covered with stickers, an oval that read Smashing Pumpkins; the man I noticed getting on the L behind me. I walked along the platform, and up to Michigan Avenue, passed the bucket drummers, haunted by the line, "Music belongs in the streets." and I smiled.

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

A miniature gem - originally published as part of an anthology. It tells, with Morpurgo's unique narrative skill, the simple but tragic story of a world-class violinist, his parents and his teacher. Set largely in Venice, beautifully captured in Michael Foreman's illustrations.

[Alison Wickham · Rating 5 out of 5]

A heart touching story based on a terrible time in history. Discusses the importance and impact music can have and how it can affect your later emotions. A great way to introduce Judaism, music, world war one and conflict in schools.

[bex 🌱 · Rating 4 out of 5]

i would give this 5 stars because it was just such a beautiful little story, however i wanted it to be longer

[Olivia Sussex · Rating 3 out of 5]

very poignant, a lovely little book

[Whitney Newby · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a beautiful story (Michael Murpugo is a masterful storyteller!) recommended to me by my friend Martha for our daughter who has been fascinated with World War II-era literature. It’s the story of a violinist whose parents endured the Holocaust. It would be a more gentle way to introduce the horrors of what happened, and you can read it in one sitting. It’s also beautifully illustrated!

[Shauna Olson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book. It’s yet another reminder of why Michael Morpurgo is one of my favorites! So much depth in a short story. Beautiful and haunting all at once. WWII was a dark time and he approaches it with candor and sensitivity, and manages to leave me ever hopeful for a happy ending.

[Pao Maya · Rating 5 out of 5]

Está muy bonito y se lee muy rápido

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

This haunting novella is a Holocaust tale of trauma, strength, survival and ultimately reunion. A young journalist is given the opportunity to interview Paolo Levi, a famous violinist, but she is told that under no circumstances is she to ask him the Mozart question. If she does, he will refuse to continue the interview. Not even knowing what the Mozart question is, she opens the interview by telling him she won't ask it. Instead she asks how he started playing the violin. After a few tense moments, he decides to tell her his story, a childhood tale of finding a street musician, a wonderful violinist who begins to teach him about the instrument. He tells the musician about his father's broken violin and asks if he could practice on it if it were mended. The musician mends the violin, and the lessons start. From this beginning, the boy learns not only how to play the violin, but he also learns the story of his parents' traumatic past. This book raises many questions about what one might do to survive, the power and significance of music, and the effect of the events of one generation on the next

Foreman's illustrations of Venice, the setting of the story, are full of deep, rich blues. These contrast with the concentration camp illustrations painted with a greatly muted palette of hazy blues and grays which serve to heighten the emotional intensity of the story.

A reviewer in Publisher's Weekly in a relatively negative review notes some historical inaccuracy. My one concern with the book has to do with its intended audience. The publisher is marketing it for ages 8 to 12. The frame of the story is very adult, and as such, very unlikely to be of interest to that age group or even understandable by much of it. The problem, of course, is that it looks like a book for 8 to 12 year olds, when in fact, it is much more likely to be read by middle schoolers.

[Charlotte]

This is a brilliantly written book about a world famous violinist from Venice, who has never spoken about his background, family history or why he started to play the violin. He decides it is time to tell the truth, and so goes through his life from a young boy to the present day, talking about how his parents wee violinists and how he learnt. Through out the book we see a deeper meaning within the story- his parents were saved from the concentration camps by being in the camp orchestra and playing Mozart to calm the Jews that were bought in to the camp, not knowing what was to happen. This in the end is why no one is ever allowed to ask him ' the Mozart question' as it brings back too many memories and things from the past that are best forgotten.
It is a beautifully written book with excellent illustrations by Micheal Foreman, which really help to form images in your mind of the cityscape and the characters involved. The book is structured in an easy to read way, giving space for the reader to really feel like they are in the story. It is a great book that could be used cross curricularly within history and R.E lessons. The writing is quite detailed, so it would probably be best for lower KS2 children. Fantastic book!

[RachelAnne · Rating 3 out of 5]

A poignant and beautifully executed short story about Jewish musicians during the Holocaust, presented in a glossy, illustrated book format. I liked the way the author framed the narrative as a story-within-a-story-within-a-story. He eases the reader back through layers of time and space to tell the tale of three musicians in a way that is resonant and comprehensible to readers as young as eight or nine, while not being too gory or emotionally immediate. I suppose that there is something to be said for the idea that the Holocaust ought to be the sort of thing that gives kids nightmares and makes readers nauseous, but I think that sometimes the shock value of gore and violence serve to make this historical travesty more surreal and less hauntingly human. This is the sort of book that probably won't trigger too many sweaty, screaming nightmares at 3AM, but it will lurk in the back of the mind and grow in pathos and meaning as readers grow older, forget juvenile nightmares and mature in their understanding. I think that is much more valuable than descriptions of gore that too easily blend with gratuitous movie violence.

[اليازية خليفة · Rating 4 out of 5]

الفئة المستهدفة من القراء -هم من الصغار مابين ١٠ إلى ١٤ سنة تقريبا.
الشخصية الرئيسية طفل في التاسعة من العمر ، و ٣ شخصيات رئيسة في القصة الأم، الأب، وعازف الكمان، وشخصيتين مساندتين المديرة التي لم تذكر في القصة إلا في البداية، والثانية هي الصحفية، وأشعر هنا أن الكاتب قد سرد تفاصيل حياة الطفل أولاً ثم قرر تغليفها بوجود هذه الصحفية التي لم يكن لها دور حقيقي في القصة .
ناقش الكاتب فكرة الأسرار في الحياة الأسرية، ورهافة الحس في الحياة البسيطة، ومبدأ تعلم الحرف أو الفنون فالأب -أفضل حلاق في مدينة فنيسيا- والأم تعمل في مغسلة، مع العلم أن الراوي عازف بيانو شهير هو ذاته الطفل غير أنه كان يسرد قصته للصحفية، بمعنى أنه لم يخجل أن يذكر طبيعة عمل والديه.
والرسالة الرئيسة من القصة هي سرد أحداث محرقة اليهود للنازيين -وفي هذه الحالة كيف أن أبوه -الإيطالي، وأمه -الـ، وعازف الكمان -الفرنسي، وهم جميعا يهود قاوموا النازية بسلاحهم الوحيد "الموسيقى".
ترك الكاتب ملاحظته ورأيه للقارئ في صفحة في نهاية الكتاب -أفضل أن يترك الرأي للقارئ وحده ، فهذه قصة وليست دراسة.
الرسومات كانت موفقة.
نسيت أن أقول أنها تمس العواطف جداً.
والأهم أن عنوان الكتاب هو مالفت نظري لأنني أحب موتزارت، فأثار في الفضول!

[Jenni · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book, even after coming back to Morpurgo years after I first discovered his books. Music, love, it will make you happy and sad. I picked this one up in the library and was inspired how original and creative the story is, which is what makes a great writer.

Pick it up, give it a try because although it is short it is a great read for when you want to think about what you are reading, not just read it...

For all ages, 4 stars. Try other Michael Morpurgo books too while you're there!

[Hannah Joy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Michael Morpurgo at his best yet again. Such a powerful story in the form of such a small book.
The illustrations, done again by Michael Foreman, were beautiful. I love the pictures.
Our copy is signed so that's pretty cool too.

Lesley is assigned the task of interviewing the world-famous violinist, Paolo Levi. She is told very specifically not to ask Paolo the Mozart question. But what is this forbidden question? Lesley does not know only that she must not ask it. Will Paolo tell her the truth or keep his secret to himself?

Must read.


10/11/19
I still love this story and find it very moving and beautiful!

[Kelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Recommended by Kori-Carter read it first and enjoyed it. I read it quickly (it's a short children's book) and ended up crying at the end. OK, I'm a little hormonal, but it was touching. A good read.

[Discoverylover · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, what an amazing book! Every book I read by Morpurgo seems to cement in my mind how awesome this author is.

I know exactly who to pass this on to, his heart is even bigger than mine, and he has a huge love of music too! And I'll probably read it again on the journey :D

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a book for the mother daughter book club. It was actually a very good and beutifua and was veru dofferent than i thought it would be like. Its like a book i have never read before. I would reccomend this book to people that like music especially the violin.

[Ellie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fantastic book to read to my 5/6 students. They loved it and so did I.

[Glenys · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very easy read on a very traumatic subject....
At an interment camp a question is asked of the new detainees:- can you play a musical instrument?
Those that could were asked to play music and were treated slightly better than others who were detained. They also had to play when truckloads of new detainees arrived by train to be sorted, some going to the gas chambers others going to work gangs. A young couple who play in the orchestra fall in love, their music is what keeps them alive... they are liberated from the camp and the young man destroys his violin because of the heartache it reminds him of. The young girl keeps her violin but keeps it wrapped in an old blanket on top of her wardrobe.... years later their son keeps asking about music, he watches his father cut hair in his barber shop and is mesmerised by the rhythm of the scissors. He speaks with his mother and is shown the violin. Later he hears a busker playing the violin and goes to watch him... he eventually strikes up a friendship and the busker mends the old violin, and gives him lessons. It turns out that he knows the boys parents and played in the same orchestra with them.... The Parents cannot enjoy any of the music by Mozart as that was always requested in the interment camp and holds too many painful memories for them. The boy goes on to become a famous violinist and is interviewed by a journalist and shares in full his story... because, "Secrets, are lies by another name. You do not lie to those you love."

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is so beautiful, tragic and bittersweet to read. I’m struck with how well crafted the plot is and how poignant the ending.
This is a Holocaust story - at first you don’t know for sure but the mystery of Paolo’s parents refusal to play the violin anymore is revealed to be their experience during the Holocaust.
Lesley is a new reporter gifted her big break by an injured colleague. She is asked to interview elusive violinist Paolo Levi in a rare opportunity- but has been told to avoid the Mozart Question. Lesley doesn’t even know what this question is, but luckily for her Paolo is in a revealing mood and so he opens up as he never has before and reveals his story, answering the Mozart Question without it being asked.
The beautiful artwork accompanying the story is well placed, and haunting. The palette is shades of brown, blue and grey - perfect for a book that is mostly flashbacks to the past - whether it is Lesley recalling her interview with Paolo Levi, Paolo recalling his childhood or Paolo’s parents discussing their past.
The story is well paced and builds well.
I have the hardback and it’s such a simple but beautiful book in story and design - great for kids to read as a middle grade story but also great for adults too. It’s short and not too detailed but this subtle approach is nonetheless still quite impactful and poignant.

[Padma Baliga · Rating 4 out of 5]

Writing about the Holocaust in a book for children is not an easy task as you may imagine. Not only is it difficult to capture the horror and the grief, but to write about it for children is an almost insurmountable task, as one's instinctive reaction is to protect children from horror and grief rather than expose them to it. But children are resilient - at times more so than adults - and many have attempted to create awareness among young readers of various genocides, catastrophes, holocausts, wars and bloodshed. One instinctively remembers John Boyne's book, probably because it was made into a very watchable film. A year after Boyne wrote The Boy with the Striped Pyjamas, Michael Morpurgo gave us The Mozart Question - the story of a little boy who secretly learns to play the violin - secretly for his father wouldn't approve. When the boy - Paolo Levi - learns that his father had been a musician himself, the mystery unravels - the story of the concentration camp, the music being played when the Jews arrive ..... All in all, a touching story and a must-read.

[Vidula_vil · Rating 3 out of 5]

It’s yet another holocaust survivor story. We have seen, heard and read many times. But this slim book with marvellous illustrations touches upon often overlooked question in the relationship between art and survival: What if art(music) itself becomes repulsive in the pursuit of survival?



No doubt art rescues us from the wretchedness of life. But the same wretchedness deters and obstructs many from experiencing wonders of life that is art/music. For Gino, music reminds him of the horrors of concentration camps and his trauma is exacerbated by his survivors guilt. Daya Pawar, once mentioned how for him Shehnai is a reminder of the scrapes from wedding receptions, representing caste oppression and poverty.



Art definitely helps in survival. In my darkest hours I turn to words, music and colours. However, it doesn’t have the power to change the society. It is incumbent on us to collectively to do so.

Hoping for world where Art enriches our lives rather where it is a tool for survival