Otto Klemperer was one of the great conductors of the century, best known in the last years of his life for his performances and recordings of the classical symphonic repertory from Mozart to Mahler. Volume 1 of Peter Heyworth's biography follows the conductor's career from early days in Prague through the innovative period of the Weimar Republic and his appointment as director of the Kroll Opera in Berlin to his abrupt departure from Germany in 1933. This book has become established as a classic account of one of the crucial figures in the musical life of the early twentieth century. With the publication of the long-awaited sequel covering the subsequent years from 1933-1973, this widely acclaimed first volume is now made available in a newly designed format as a companion to volume 2.