Table of Contents

Chronology; Part I. Biographical and Historical Contexts: 1. Wagner lives: issues in autobiography John Deathridge; 2. Meister Richard's apprenticeship: the early operas (1833–40) Thomas S. Grey; 3. To the Dresden barricades: the genesis of Wagner's political ideas Mitchell Cohen; Part II. Opera, Music, Drama: 4. The 'Romantic operas' and the turn to myth Stewart Spencer; 5. Der Ring des Nibelungen: conception and interpretation Barry Millington; 6. Leitmotif, temporality, and musical design in the Ring Thomas S. Grey; 7. Tristan und Isolde: essence and appearance John Daverio; 8. Performing Germany in Wagner's Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg Stephen McClatchie; 9. Parsifal: redemption and Kunstreligion Glenn Stanley; Part III. Ideas and Ideology in the Gesamtkunstwerk: 10. The urge to communicate: the prose writings as theory and practice James Treadwell; 11. Critique as passion and polemic: Nietzsche and Wagner Dieter Borchmeyer; 12. The Jewish question Thomas S. Grey; Part IV. After Wagner: Influence and Interpretation: 13. 'Wagnerism': responses to Wagner in music and the arts Annegret Fauser; 14. Wagner and the Third Reich: myths and realities Pamela M. Potter; 15. Wagner on stage: aesthetic, dramaturgical, and social considerations Mike Ashman; 16. Criticism and analysis: current perspectives Arnold Whittall.

Promotional Information

Leading specialists explore a wide range of topics and issues surrounding the influential and controversial figure Richard Wagner.

About the Author

Thomas S. Grey is Associate Professor in Music at Stanford University.

Reviews

"This volume provides a balanced introduction to the composer's life, times, works, and reception. A useful chronology … The repolitiizing of the 'Wagner question' is unquestionably one of this book's strengths and certain to make it compelling to a wide variety of readers."
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