Crescendo of the virtuoso
Subtitle: spectacle, skill, and self-promotion in Paris during the Age of Revolution
By: Paul Metzner.
Series: Studies on the history of society and culture ;; 30
Publisher: University of California Press
Published: 1998
Place of publication: Berkeley
Language: eng
Number of pages: 385
Subjects: Revolutions -- France -- History -- 19th century.; Social change -- France -- Paris -- History -- 19th century.; Arts and revolutions -- France -- Paris -- History -- 19th century.; Technological innovations -- France -- Paris.; Public spaces -- France -- Paris.; Democracy -- France -- History -- 19th century.; Paris (France) -- History -- 1789-1900.; France -- History -- Revolution, 1789-1799 -- Influence.
Description: During the Age of Revolution, Paris came alive with wildly popular virtuoso performances. Whether the performers were musicians or chefs, chess players or detectives, these virtuosos transformed their technical skills into dramatic spectacles, presenting the marvelous and the outre for spellbound audiences. Who were these individuals, and how did they gain their fame? How did their values of spectacularism and self-promotion become so dominant? And why did Paris become their focal point?

Paul Metzner answers these questions and more in this fascinating portrayal of the cyclone of virtuosity that overtook Paris from 1775 to 1850.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references and index.
A digital reproduction is available from E-Editions, a collaboration of the University of California Press and the California Digital Library's eScholarship program.