Richard Wagner and His World (The Bard Music Festival (21))

Richard Wagner (1813-1883) aimed to be more than just a composer. He set out to redefine opera as a "total work of art" combining the highest aspirations of drama, poetry, the symphony, the visual arts, even religion and philosophy. Equally celebrated and vilified in his own time, Wagner continues to provoke debate today regarding his political legacy as well as his music and aesthetic theories. __Wagner and His World__ examines his works in their intellectual and cultural contexts. Seven original essays investigate such topics as music drama in light of rituals of naming in the composer's works and the politics of genre; the role of leitmotif in Wagner's reception; the urge for extinction in __Tristan und Isolde__ as psychology and symbol; Wagner as his own stage director; his conflicted relationship with pianist-composer Franz Liszt; the anti-French satire __Eine Kapitulation__ in the context of the Franco-Prussian War; and responses of Jewish writers and musicians to Wagner's anti-Semitism. In addition to the editor, the contributors are Karol Berger, Leon Botstein, Lydia Goehr, Kenneth Hamilton, Katherine Syer, and Christian Thorau. This book also includes translations of essays, reviews, and memoirs by champions and detractors of Wagner; glimpses into his domestic sphere in Tribschen and Bayreuth; and all of Wagner's program notes to his own works. Introductions and annotations are provided by the editor and David Breckbill, Mary A. Cicora, James Deaville, Annegret Fauser, Steven Huebner, David Trippett, and Nicholas Vazsonyi. Richard Wagner (1813-1883) Aimed To Be More Than Just A Composer. He Set Out To Redefine Opera As A Total Work Of Art Combining The Highest Aspirations Of Drama, Poetry, The Symphony, The Visual Arts, Even Religion And Philosophy. Equally Celebrated And Vilified In His Own Time, Wagner Continues To Provoke Debate Today Regarding His Political Legacy As Well As His Music And Aesthetic Theories. Wagner And His World Examines His Works In Their Intellectual And Cultural Contexts. Seven Original Essays Investigate Such Topics As Music Drama In Light Of Rituals Of Naming In The Composer's Works And The Politics Of Genre; The Role Of Leitmotif In Wagner's Reception; The Urge For Extinction In Tristan Und Isolde As Psychology And Symbol; Wagner As His Own Stage Director; His Conflicted Relationship With Pianist-composer Franz Liszt; The Anti-french Satire Eine Kapitulation In The Context Of The Franco-prussian War; And Responses Of Jewish Writers And Musicians To Wagner's Anti-semitism. In Addition To The Editor, The Contributors Are Karol Berger, Leon Botstein, Lydia Goehr, Kenneth Hamilton, Katherine Syer, And Christian Thorau. This Book Also Includes Translations Of Essays, Reviews, And Memoirs By Champions And Detractors Of Wagner; Glimpses Into His Domestic Sphere In Tribschen And Bayreuth; And All Of Wagner's Program Notes To His Own Works. Introductions And Annotations Are Provided By The Editor And David Breckbill, Mary A. Cicora, James Deaville, Annegret Fauser, Steven Huebner, David Trippett, And Nicholas Vazsonyi [publisher Description]. Essays. From Page To Stage : Wagner As Regisseur / Katherine Syer ; Wagner And Liszt : Elective Affinities / Kenneth Hamilton ; From Opera To Music Drama : Nominal Loss, Titular Gain / Lydia Goehr ; Eine Kapitulation : Aristophanic Operetta As Cultural Warfare In 1870 / Thomas S. Grey ; Note On Tristan's Death Wish / Karol Berger ; Guides For Wagnerites : Leitmotifs And Wagnerian Listening / Christian Thorau ; German Jews And Wagner / Leon Botstein -- Biographical Contexts. Wilhelmine Schröder-devrient And Wagner's Dresden ; Catulle Mendès Visits Tribschen ; Recollections Of Villa Wahnfried From Wagner's American Dentist -- Toward A Music Of The Future : 1840-1860. The Overture To Tannhäuser / Franz Liszt ; Letters To A Young Composer About Wagner / Johann Christian Lobe ; Franz Brendel's Reconciliation Address / Franz Brendel ; -- Wagner And Paris. Wagner Admires Meyerbeer (les Huguenots) ; Debacle At The Paris Opéra : Tannhäuser And The French Critics ; The Revue Wagnérienne : Symbolism, Aestheticism, And Germanophilia -- The Bayreuth Era. Press Releases From The Bayreuth Festival, 1876 : An Early Attempt At Spin Control ; Hanslick Contra Wagner ; Hans Von Wolzogen's Parsifal (1887) ; Cosima Wagner's Bayreuth -- The Complete Program Notes Of Richard Wagner. Edited By Thomas S. Grey. Published In Conjunction With The Bard Music Festival. Includes Bibliographical References And Index.