[Hinode Publishing Co., Ltd.] Advance sale event for the book “Sylvester Levay: A Life with Sound – From Film Music to the Musical ‘Elisabeth,’ and Now”!
Hinode Publishing Co., Ltd. Press release: October 27, 2025 To Members of the Press Pre-sale event for the book “Sylvester Levay: A Life with Sound – From Film Music to the Musical ‘Elisabeth’ and Now”! On Thursday, October 9, 2025, a pre-sale event for the book “Sylvester Levay: A Life with Sound – From Film Music to the Musical ‘Elisabeth,’ and Now” (published by Hinode Publishing, distributed by Magazine House) was held at HMV&BOOKS SHIBUYA.
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https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/56546/45/56546-45-6016d9670f7d87112c84325e2034714e-3900×2600.jpg The event consisted of a talk show and autograph session. Levi explained the motivation for publishing the book, saying, “Turning 80 was an opportunity for me to want everyone to know a little more about my life, so I asked Hohenlohe to write about it.” Hohenlohe responded, “I was honored to be asked to write the book. It was also extremely rewarding to retrace Levi and his family’s footsteps through interviews with so many people.” Oi, the translator, said, “This job wasn’t just a translation; it was also a job tracing the life of a great composer, so I felt a lot of pressure when I was asked to do it, but my curiosity as a researcher got the better of me. While translating, it was difficult to resist the urge to tell someone about the episodes in the work. Of course, I kept this job a secret from the students (laughs).” The friendly personalities and witty conversation of the three speakers created a warm and lively atmosphere in the venue, which was filled with excitement.
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https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/56546/45/56546-45-663af2f4083025fec812168291b0d7ee-1800×2700.jpg Edited by: Sylvester Levay Sylvester Levay I am very happy that this book has been published. Family ties play a vital role in who I am and in my creative work. I delve deeply into this subject in the book, so I hope you will pay attention to that as you read. I’m sure it will change the way you feel about music.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/56546/45/56546-45-f53cbabef3c173aed2b4072a022eee6d-1800×2700.jpg Author: Karl Hohenlohe Karl Hohenlohe I highly recommend you read this book. I hope that Sylvester Levi’s life story will inspire you to think about how you want to live your life. I believe that Levi’s way of life will serve as a good example for you all.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/56546/45/56546-45-90fa501cb55689beb5beb1d7d0a623a4-1800×2700.jpg Translator: Tomonori Oi Tomonori Oi Translating this book, I had the experience of seeing the depth of Mr. Levi’s music through his life. I hope everyone can experience that same experience. After reading this book, if you take another look at Levi’s work, you will likely find that your perceptions of it have changed. [Profile] Supervised by: Sylvester Levay A composer whose name has left its mark on music history. Raised in a town in the former Yugoslavia, at the age of 16 he began performing as a member of Europe’s most successful show orchestra. He won a Grammy Award for composing the disco anthem “Fly Robin Fly” with Michael Kunze. After the disco era ended, he moved to Hollywood and composed music for Elton John and numerous major films. He returned to Europe and focused on musicals, releasing a succession of masterpieces, including “Elisabeth,” “Mozart!”, “Rebecca,” and “Beethoven.” He is one of the most successful composers of this era. Author: Karl Hohenlohe TV host, director, editor of Austria’s largest restaurant guide, columnist, and author. He has a natural interest in historical subjects. Born into the Hohenlohe-Schillingsfürst family, he has close ties with many of Europe’s former and current royal families. Translator: Oi Tomonori Professor, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Seisen Women’s University. Ph.D. in Political Science. He specializes in Austrian Habsburg history, modern German history, and the history of international relations. In recent years, he has become interested in historical musical theory, and shares the joy of it at universities and in public lectures. [Book Overview] “Sylvester Levay: A Life with Sound: From Film Music to the Musical ‘Elisabeth’ and Now” Release date: Thursday, October 30, 2025 Price: ¥2,750 (tax included) Format: 4-6 format Number of pages: 232 ISBN code: 978-4-8387-3360-6 : Hinode Publishing Co., Ltd. : Magazine House Co., Ltd. Distribution: Nationwide bookstores, online bookstores, etc. Official X: @hinode_books About the Contents: This book is an autobiography of world-renowned composer Sylvester Levay, known for musicals such as “Elisabeth,” “Mozart!,” and “Lady Bess,” written to mark his 80th birthday. In addition to musical music, he won a Grammy Award for the disco music “Fly Robin Fly” and composed theme songs for Hollywood films such as “Airwolf” and “Hot Shots.” This book explores the source of his talent, leaving a significant mark on the music world. It also vividly describes the social context of the time, making it a truly “first-class resource” for the history of world music. The book also includes 151 photographs from Levi’s collection. [Contact for this matter] Hinode Publishing Co., Ltd. Book Editorial Office TEL: 03-5543-2221 (Main) *For sales inquiries, Please contact Magazine House Co., Ltd. Order Center at 049-275-1811. More
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