Lowering the Tone (& Raising The Roof)

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.