"The crackle of a tannoy breaks the expectant silence and, during a pause in the boom of artillery shells, Music washes over the City of Leningrad. The defiant symphony infiltrates ruined homes and empty streets, echoing beyond the besieged walls to the very heart of the German forces. Its composer is Shostakovich, Leningrad's most famous son. But this is only partly his story. This is the story of a man caught in the White heat of obsession. This is the story of Karl Eliasberg. The Conductor."

I read this book with my book group and found it a very moving account of life inside besieged Leningrad.

I left this book on the book shelf near the fire place.