At thirty, Carlo Alberto Mandelli de Castagnino has achieved what most men can only dream about. He has the looks and charm to sweep many young women off their feet, and his works are so impressive that people compare him to legends. All these achievements have left Carlo jaded as he seeks a new challenge. When an offer from the Odessa Opera House comes his way, he takes it without even considering the reservations of friends and family that the Russian empire is in a period of dangerous uncertainty. Carlo welcomes the adventure, and when he meets Artyom Kaminsky, an instant friendship develops. What starts as casual camaraderie grows into something more profound, if not forbidden, in the aristocratic circles of Europe. Only time will tell if this bond can survive the ideological inferno that sweeps through Russia in Paolo G. Grossi's The Kaminsky Symphony.

Love and politics clash explosively in The Kaminsky Symphony. Paolo G. Grossi emphasizes the unusual relationship between Carlo and the other members of his family, especially his mother, creating context for Carlo's sometimes erratic behavior and desire to explore, and crafting a relatable origin story. The dialogue switches from casual to political and back, with some well-placed emotional references to Carlo's social life delivered in an era-appropriate tone that genre enthusiasts will enjoy. The attention to detail is magnificent, ranging from subtle details, such as the spelling of a Russian city's name, to the ideological differences between the factions that fight on the streets of Odessa. This immersive narrative features a romantic subplot that balances masculinity, drama, and politics evenly and is guaranteed to keep readers glued from start to finish.

The Kaminsky Symphony by Paolo G. Grossi is a sweet, warm, and yet at times starkly brutal account of love, loss, and the vicissitudes of war. It is 1913, and the greatest living conductor, excluding Toscanini, Maestro Mandelli di Castagnino is just finishing his season at the famed La Scala Opera House in Milan. Tired of the public adoration and his private loneliness, Mandelli accepts a lowly three-year post as the resident chief conductor at the Odessa Opera House in Russia, much to the amazement, consternation, and warnings from his agent, his fans, and his family. Russia is on the brink of civil war, with the Bolsheviks challenging the Tsar and the status quo. Mandelli is convinced the change will do him good, and he will be freer to indulge his own impulses when it comes to love. A huge success in Odessa, achieving acclaim and recognition by the Tsar himself, Mandelli finds happiness in his career at this cultural outpost, and he also finally finds love. However, war waits for no one, and caught up in the bloody revolution, both Mandelli and the love of his life, a local doctor, find themselves on the front lines of the Bolshevik revolution.

LGBTQ+ fiction is not necessarily my go-to read, but I am glad that I chose to read The Kaminsky Symphony. My knowledge of music and especially classical music is non-existent; however, I was totally caught up in the world created by Paolo G. Grossi. I found the romance scenes and the introspection that Mandelli goes through insightful and incredibly forward-thinking for the age in which he lived. I was fascinated by the activities of Mandelli’s sister, an aristocrat who adopted the proletariat as her own crusade and embraced Bolshevism with a passion that only the children of rich aristocrats had the time or money to do. Although the story contains sexual situations, I was so impressed with the author’s ability to describe these activities without ever becoming overly explicit or crass. The love scenes are touching, heartfelt, and incredibly sweet. The final chapters reveal how even in the midst of tragedy and deep, harrowing sadness, meaning and triumph are still possible. I laughed aloud at the characters that Mandelli met and interacted with on his voyage to Odessa. In their utter pomposity, the aristocracy were no different from ordinary people. I will be actively seeking out other works by this talented author. I highly recommend this read.

The Kaminsky Symphony by Paolo G. Grossi is a historical novel tracing the journey of Carlo Alberto Mandelli, an Italian nobleman and conductor whose appointment to the Odessa Opera House draws him from the cultural certainty of Milan into a city shaped by imperial authority, artistic ambition, and mounting political unrest. As Carlo reforms rehearsal practices and expands the opera’s reach, his private life becomes entwined with Dr. Artyom Nikolaevich Kaminsky and his family, linking music to medicine, domestic life, and civic responsibility. Set against the final years of Tsarist rule and the rise of revolutionary power, the novel leans into a more private view of duty, institutional loyalty, and an attachment of love and intimacy that collide with the expectations of the era that Carlo embodies.

The Kaminsky Symphony by Paolo G. Grossi is a beautifully sweeping story, and the measured, methodical build-up and delivery of the backstory can only come from the restrained hand of a talented author. I love both the activism and Carlo's quiet bending to keep the Odessa Opera House alive by accepting Bolshevik oversight and sanctioned repertory, turning performances into a public obligation sustained for musicians and listeners during civic breakdown. Grossi allows medicine and music to converge with Artyom, who is a character in his own right and whose work ranges from the Tsarevich’s diagnosis to battlefield surgery. Carlo and Artyom's bond follows him from the podium to the field hospital, assisting nurses and forming a soldiers’ choir. Their bond is unmistakable, and by the premiere of Sinfonia Kaminsky, Op. 1 at La Scala, I was an emotional mess, in the best possible way. Recommended.

Paolo G. Grossi's The Kaminsky Symphony is a work of historical fiction that captures the complexities of love, loss, and the human spirit against the backdrop of revolutionary Russia. The novel follows Carlo Mandelli, a celebrated Italian conductor, as he navigates the tumultuous political landscape of early 20th-century Europe and his deeply personal bond with Doctor Artyom Kaminsky. The novel’s structure, with its alternating chapters and reflective moments, allows readers to experience the story from multiple perspectives, creating a multifaceted portrayal of the characters and their world. The titular symphony is a powerful metaphor for Carlo’s love and loss, and its creation becomes a cathartic process for him, symbolizing the enduring impact of his relationship with Artyom.

Paolo G. Grossi masterfully intertwines the personal and the political, painting a vivid picture of a world on the brink of transformation. The narrative is rich in historical detail, bringing to life the opulence of pre-revolutionary Russia, the chaos of war, and the stark realities of the Bolshevik uprising. The author’s ability to capture his characters’ emotional turmoil is striking. Grossi’s prose is lyrical, capturing the era’s beauty and tragedy with precision. The exploration of themes such as identity, love, and the impact of societal expectations adds emotional weight to the story. The Kaminsky Symphony is a moving novel that offers a glimpse into a world torn apart by revolution and war, while also celebrating the power of love and art to transcend boundaries. It is a beautifully written and deeply affecting story that readers of authors like André Aciman, E.M. Forster, and Alan Hollinghurst, who enjoy deeply emotional, character-driven narratives, won’t want to miss.