Anthony Phillips learnt Russian in the "Secret Classrooms" of National Service in the 1950s and later at Oxford. The language continued to play an important part during his later career in music administration, during which he became general manager of London's Royal Festival Hall. Story of a Friendship, his translation of Shostakovich's letters to Isaak Glikman, was published by Faber in 2000, and Anton Chekhov: A Life in Letters (with Rosamund Bartlett) by Penguin Classics in 2004.

'A fascinating record for posterity.' - Irish Times'This extraordinary achievement . . . Phillip's enthusiasm, tact and sympathy, not to mention his wide knowledge of music and history, have produced a work that everyone interested in music and Russian culture of the past hundred years should read.', Gerald McBurney, New Statesman

Anthony Phillips learnt Russian in the "Secret Classrooms" of National Service in the 1950s and later at Oxford. The language continued to play an important part during his later career in music administration, during which he became general manager of London's Royal Festival Hall. Story of a Friendship, his translation of Shostakovich's letters to Isaak Glikman, was published by Faber in 2000, and Anton Chekhov: A Life in Letters (with Rosamund Bartlett) by Penguin Classics in 2004.

'A fascinating record for posterity.' - Irish Times'This extraordinary achievement . . . Phillip's enthusiasm, tact and sympathy, not to mention his wide knowledge of music and history, have produced a work that everyone interested in music and Russian culture of the past hundred years should read.', Gerald McBurney, New Statesman

Anthony Phillips learnt Russian in the "Secret Classrooms" of National Service in the 1950s and later at Oxford. The language continued to play an important part during his later career in music administration, during which he became general manager of London's Royal Festival Hall. Story of a Friendship, his translation of Shostakovich's letters to Isaak Glikman, was published by Faber in 2000, and Anton Chekhov: A Life in Letters (with Rosamund Bartlett) by Penguin Classics in 2004.

'A fascinating record for posterity.' - Irish Times'This extraordinary achievement . . . Phillip's enthusiasm, tact and sympathy, not to mention his wide knowledge of music and history, have produced a work that everyone interested in music and Russian culture of the past hundred years should read.', Gerald McBurney, New Statesman