| Abstract |
To the initiated Wagner's music is an inspiration. To the uninitiated the composer can seem obscure and impenetrable. The author shows how Wagner, often regarded as a composer for the privileged, is in fact infinitely accessible. This book is the first work to follow the complex developments of Wagner's life and the intricate plots of his operas--with an emphasis on interpretation as well as information. Here are all of his operas, all of the characters, the main symbolic themes and ideas, together with a full biographical survey of the important people in Wagner's life and lists of many later Wagnerians. A clear and definitive guide to understanding what you see and hear during any particular performance, this book will be an invaluable reference for both the devotee and the novice. |
