Classical Seattle

"Few if any observers of music in Seattle know the city, and the art, as well as Melinda Bargreen does. She has chronicled the culture, with its triumphs and struggles, leaders and supporters, ambitions and occasional delusions, with a clear eye. She savors the past, celebrates the present, and contemplates the future with realistic sympathy. Her wide-ranging account is notable for aesthetic sensitivity, literary brilliance, and, yes, wit."—Martin Bernheimer, Pulitzer Prize winning music critic

"This is a love letter to the musical community of Seattle, both past and present, with no character overlooked. Classical Seattle contributes to the rich cultural life of Seattle and through Bargreen's attention to detail, almost always presented with great affection, one feels a part of this community. Her deep respect for this wonderful musical city makes her a giant herself."—Flicka von Stade

"An astounding book. Melinda Bargreen brings Seattle, and its colorful cast of characters on and offstage, to life in vivid detail. Eminently readable and thoroughly enjoyable, Classical Seattle is a treasure written by the single person with the perspective to bring it all together. Music lovers everywhere will love this book!"—Jon Kimura Parker, concert pianist and professor of piano, Shepherd School of Music, Rice University

"Having grown up ensconced in the Seattle music world, I thought I knew many of the personalities in this book, but Bargreen makes their stories and backstories as fascinating and colorful as their rich musical legacies. If music is important to your life, you will find Classical Seattle an incredibly compelling and inspirational read."—Aloysia Friedmann, violinist, violist, and founder and artistic director of the Orcas Island Chamber Music Festival