"Music is life. Music is a reflection of who we are as humans.” —Susan Graham, renowned American mezzo-soprano In revealing and genuine interviews, Larry Ruttman converses with world-renowned musicians of the 21st century and engages them in an approachable manner. Dive into the recesses of their minds to discover the influences and inspiration behind classical music and other popular genres such as pop, jazz, folk, Americana, and many other genres impacting today’s musical culture. Interviews include: John Harbison, Joan Tower, Robert Levin, Unsuk Chin, Osvaldo Golijov, Matthew Aucoin, Harry Christophers CBE, Charles Dutoit, Gil Rose, Martin Pearlman, Benjamin Zander, Anne-Sophie Mutter, Susan Graham, Kim Kashkashian, Laurence Lesser, Cecylia Arzewski, Aiko Onishi, Ran Blake, Eden MacAdam-Somer, Monica Rizzio, and Mark Volpe. Perfect for dedicated fans, determined students, and the casually interested listener to music of all genres,  Intimate Conversations: Face to Face with Matchless Musicians  is sure to inspire, fascinate, and entertain. REVIEWS "Compelling … for classical music aficionados" —Kirkus Reviews "Absolutely fascinating, as well as impossible to find anywhere else." —Neil Rutman, DMA, author of Stories, Images, and Magic from the Piano Literature "Libraries seeking close inspections of classical music’s contemporary meaning will want to make Intimate Conversations a foundation acquisition for any serious music library." —Midwest Book Review (Pick of the Month) “Larry Ruttman’s Intimate Conversations: Face to Face with Matchless Musicians opens a fascinating window into the lives and creative processes of some of the leading music-makers of our time. Erudite, inquisitive, and gifted with the ability to put his illustrious subjects at ease, Larry elicits heartfelt and strikingly candid interviews. Any reader of these in-depth encounters with great musicians is certain to gain a new understanding and appreciation of their artistry.”—Renée Fleming "Through these in-depth and utterly engaging interviews, Larry Ruttman has succeeded in revealing an intricate web of the musical mentors who have influenced the people portrayed in this delightful book. It’s like an official reference book for the musical world over the past hundred years. No lover of classical music will want to be without it." —Benjamin Zander, Conductor of the Boston Philharmonic Orchestra and The Boston Philharmonic Youth Orchestra AWARDS Forward Indies Finalist - Performing Arts & Music 2024 da Vinci Eye Winner - Eric Hoffer 2025 Nellie Bly CIBA Finalist - Chanticleer 2024 Literary Titan Gold Award Nonfiction Author, historian, podcaster, and teacher, Larry Ruttman, has rich experience to share. His podcasts, “Larry Ruttman, A Life Lived Backwards: One Man’s Life,” is available on larryruttman.com. His papers have been collected and disseminated worldwide by the New England Historical Genealogical Society, he is a Fellow of the Mass. Historical Society, and has a Wikipedia article. Larry’s previous work includes  American Jews and America’s Game , chosen as best in America in 2013 by Sports Collectors Digest, and his forthcoming memoir,  A Life Lived Backwards .