Lowering the Tone

Overview

Raymond Gubbay brings to life his extraordinary fifty-year career as one of the most experienced and well-connected impresarios in British theatre and entertainment. With a provenance rich in history and talent, he retraces the musical legacy of his family, growing up as Jewish in 1950s post-war London with the challenges he faced while embarking on his theatrical journey after a few failed attempts at corporate conformity. Working alongside some of the most prestigious classical and popular artists of our time—from Yehudi Menuhin, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Luciano Pavarotti, and the English National Ballet to Ray Charles, Miles Davis, and Andrew Lloyd-Webber—Gubbay has witnessed and played a hand in promoting and producing some of the most iconic performances of opera, ballet, and classical music ever staged. Lowering the Tone is rich with febrile stories of showbusiness and the behind-the scenes business of the great theatrical venues, with appearances by Princes Diana and a wealth of other household and international names. This is a story of achievement, imagination, and a desire to bring happiness and entertainment to generations of theatre-goers.

Author Biography

Raymond Gubbay is an impresario who has played a hand in promoting and producing opera, ballet, and classical music for over 50 years, having worked alongside some of the most prestigious classical artists of our time. In 1966 he founded Raymond Gubbay Ltd, an institution recognised as being at the forefront of the performing arts industry, which has since began to present well over 500 performances each year, including spectacular productions of the world's most famous ballets, such as Romeo and Juliet, The Sleeping Beauty, and Swan Lake.