Written as a confessional letter to his son, an 18th century opera singer recounts how his gift for sound led him on an astonishing journey to Europe’s celebrated opera houses and reveals how he came to raise a son who by all rights he never could have sired. The celebrated opera singer Lo Svizzero was born in a belfry high in the Swiss Alps where his mother served as the keeper of the loudest … the keeper of the loudest and most beautiful bells in the land. Shaped by the bells’ glorious music, he possessed an extraordinary gift for sound. But when his preternatural hearing was discovered—along with its power to expose the sins of the church—young Moses Froben was cast out of his village with only his ears to guide him in a world fraught with danger.
Rescued from certain death by two traveling monks, he finds refuge at the vast and powerful Abbey of St. Gall. There, he becomes the protégé of the Abbey’s brilliant yet repulsive choirmaster, Ulrich. But it is this gift that will cause Moses’ greatest misfortune: determined to preserve his brilliant pupil’s voice, Ulrich has Moses castrated. Now, he will forever sing with the exquisite voice of an angel—a musico—yet castration is an abomination in the Swiss Confederation, and so he must hide his shameful condition from his friends and even from the girl he has come to love. When his saviors are exiled and his beloved leaves St. Gall for an arranged marriage in Vienna, he decides he can deny the truth no longer and he follows her—to sumptuous Vienna, to the former monks who saved his life, to an apprenticeship at one of Europe’s greatest theaters, and to the premiere of one of history’s most beloved operas.
Like the voice of Lo Svizzero, The Bells is a sublime debut novel that rings with passion, courage, and beauty.
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This is my very favorite book.There is A portion of it that is painful to read. Please don’t let it stop you. Read it to the end. You won’t be sorry.
This book should have become a bestseller. For music what Perfume was to fragrance. Please find a copy a savor it. Just beautiful, powerful, magnificent.
Highly recommend it. I had both the Kindle and Audible versions. Takes one into a world we probably did not know about. Recommended to friends and they recommend it to others. Get it!
I actually really enjoyed this book. Although the subject matter was rather disturbing it was a well written story. I recommend it.
I found it an interesting read. It took awhile for me to get into it. When I read the first chapter the second time things cleared up. It has an unusual beginning story.
I learned quite a bit about boy’s choirs of this time period, the competition for the perfect sound between choir directors and the whole thing about castration to keep the voice high. The characters were well-developed and interesting. The story was sad in many parts, but also had amusing and happy parts.
A very well written story with many ups and downs. The descriptions of sounds were wonderful, almost letting you hear the scenes yourself while reading. I have had the privilege of visiting a few of the areas mentioned in the novel, so being able to “revisit” them in a different time was a wonderful treat.
“The Bells” is a book unlike any other I have ever read. The book is totally rooted in the possibility of a young man’s life during the time of the era of castrati singers. The characters are developed so well that you feel as if you were living and experiencing everything that they are. This book’s story will stay with me for a long time. I highly recommend it.
all-around a wonderful well written book
This is a tragic story of a boy born to an abused woman, shunned by society, and tricked by adults. Throughout it all, he persevered with the aid of true friends.
A very original book! He writes about sounds and singing in a lyrical way. Musicians and singers would especially like this book.
I love words as much as the main character loves sounds. Because his story is one of survival, it is a sad story, but it also one of promise. Spoiler alert: there is a very graphic scene which is disturbing.
I found this author’s lyrical writing style and original concept to be captivating. Reading it made me think about sound and the act of listening in a different way. The story continues to resound and I’m sure to read it again some day.
A story line which paints the picture of monastic life and the morals of the time with a fascinating message that birthright does not supersede raw talent; Abandonment carries scars and accidental encounters can make a life. of friendships. An interesting read.
I thought this book was excellent.
Kept me intetested the whole time.
The Bells was an beautifully written tale with an original origin story for the hero. It had a sensitivity that Ann Rice’s tale about a Castrato singer did not. I thoroughly enjoyed the the characters and the depiction of the era. I recommend The Bells to anyone who enjoys well done historical fiction.
Had to keep reading to find out the ending…but sometimes hard to follow plot ideas.
Certainly an unusual subject, and a fascinating topic. The characters, even the relatively minor ones, were so well developed and well depicted. I could hardly put the book down, I was so engrossed in the story. Will look for other books by this author.