Noisy at the Wrong Times by Michael Volpe
Against a backdrop of nuns, hit men, gangsters, rugby and ice-cream, Noisy at the wrong times is an inspiring memoir by Michael Volpe, General Manager and founder of Opera Holland Park, one of the UK's most popular opera festivals. Volpe's upbringing in a fatherless Italian family in London is hardly recognised as being one from which champions of the high, classical arts emerge, but at the heart of this story is his time at Woolverstone Hall, a prestigious state boarding school that took bright, inner city boys and gave them an Eton-style education - with culture at the heart of the curriculum. Volpe's sudden immersion in a world of rules, traditions and high expectation produced some surprising - and not so surprising - results. With brutal honesty, Noisy at the wrong times charts Volpe's torrid path through this extraordinary school; his countless misdemeanours, the tragedies he experienced, his often shameful behaviour and his endless conflicts - both emotional and physical - with authority. Noisy at the wrong times is a lesson for modern educationalists at a time when inner city children from poor backgrounds are often written off even before they begin, when cultural education is diminishing and aspirational leadership of young people is little more than a platitude. It is also a book, as Michael states, for: all those who were ever told not to bother. The book was featured in the Sunday Times Culture section.
'With wit, candour and a jaunty spring in his narrative step, Michael Volpe's vivid memoir shows just how much a good school with dedicated teachers can broaden the most recalcitrant child's horizons and transform his or her life' -- Anthony Holden 'If you assumed opera was for the privileged classes read this book. You'll laugh, you'll cry and you'll ask yourself how Michael Volpe turned childhood disadvantage into such a life-affirming asset. With a good deal of mischief is one answer.' -- Fiona Maddocks 'Volpe has introduced tens of thousands of Londoners to some of the most extreme stories in Italian opera, featuring families at war, lust, obsession and violence. Now he tells a true story that's just as gripping - with a little less violence but boasting a much more honest and engaging hero than opera can normally muster. A redemption journey without an ounce of smug, Noisy should be shouted about.' -- Neil Fisher The Times
Michael Volpe, the youngest of four brothers, is from an Italian immigrant family and has three children; Leanora, Gianluca and Fiora. He is married to Sally Connew-Volpe and they live in London. Michael joined the Royal Borough Of Kensington and Chelsea in October 1989 after a period of working in the international hotel industry and founded Opera Holland Park in 1996. Michael is a Chelsea supporter, and fervent advocate of cultural engagement for all - neither of which are necessarily related.
| SKU | Unavailable |
| ISBN 13 | 9781784623234 |
| ISBN 10 | 1784623237 |
| Title | Noisy at the Wrong Times |
| Author | Michael Volpe |
| Condition | Unavailable |
| Binding Type | Hardback |
| Publisher | Troubador Publishing |
| Year published | 2015-04-23 |
| Number of pages | 304 |
| Cover note | Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary. |
| Note | Unavailable |