The Cambridge Companion to Wagner (Cambridge Companions to Music)

Richard Wagner is remembered as one of the most influential figures in music and theatre, but his place in history has been marked by a considerable amount of controversy. His attitudes towards the Jews and the appropriation of his operas by the Nazis, for example, have helped to construct a historical persona that sits uncomfortably with modern sensibilities. Yet Wagner's absolutely central position in the operatic canon continues. This volume serves as a timely reminder of his ongoing musical, cultural, and political impact. Contributions by specialists from such varied fields as musical history, German literature and cultural studies, opera production, and political science consider a range of topics, from trends and problems in the history of stage production to the representations of gender and sexuality. With the inclusion of invaluable and reliably up-to-date biographical data, this collection will be of great interest to scholars, students, and enthusiasts.-- Provided by publisher Richard Wagner Is Remembered As One Of The Most Influential Figures In Music And Theater. His Place In History Has Been Marked By A Considerable Amount Of Controversy, Yet Wagner's Absolutely Central Position In The Operatic Canon Continues. This Volume Serves As A Timely Reminder Of His Ongoing Musical, Cultural, And Political Impact. Contributions By Specialists From Such Varied Fields As Musical History, German Literature And Cultural Studies, Opera Production, And Political Science Consider A Range Of Topics, From Trends And Problems In The History Of Stage Production To The Representations Of Gender And Sexuality. With The Inclusion Of Invaluable And Reliably Up-to-date Biographical Data, This Collection Will Be Of Great Interest To Scholars, Students, And Enthusiasts [publisher Description]. Wagner Lives : Issues In Autobiography / John Deathridge -- Meister Richard's Apprenticeship : The Early Operas (1833-1840) / Thomas S. Grey -- To The Dresden Barricades : The Genesis Of Wagner's Political Ideas / Mitchell Cohen -- The Romantic Operas And The Turn To Myth / Stewart Spencer -- Der Ring Des Nibelungen : Conception And Interpretation / Barry Millington -- Leitmotif, Temporality, And Musical Design In The Ring / Thomas S. Grey -- Tristan Und Isolde : Essence And Appearance / John Daverio -- Performing Germany In Wagner's Die Meistersinger Von Nürnberg / Stephen Mcclatchie -- Parsifal : Redemption And Kunstreligion / Glenn Stanley -- The Urge To Communicate : The Prose Writings As Theory And Practice / James Treadwell -- Critique As Passion And Polemic : Nietzsche And Wagner / Dieter Borchmeyer -- The Jewish Question / Thomas S. Grey -- Wagnerism : Responses To Wagner In Music And The Arts / Annegret Fauser -- Wagner And The Third Reich : Myths And Realities / Pamela M. Potter -- Wagner On Stage : Aesthetic, Dramaturgical, And Social Considerations / Mike Ashman -- Criticism And Analysis : Current Perspectives / Arnold Whittall. Edited By Thomas S. Grey. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 290-336) And Index. Frontmatter 1 Part I Biographical and historical contexts 40 1 Wagner lives: issues in autobiography 42 2 Meister Richard's apprenticeship: the early operas (1833-1840) 57 3 To the Dresden barricades: the genesis of Wagner's political ideas 86 Part II Opera, music, drama 104 4 The "Romantic operas" and the turn to myth 106 5 Der Ring des Nibelungen: conception and interpretation 113 6 Leitmotif, temporality, and musical design in the Ring 124 7 Tristan und Isolde: essense and appearance 154 8 Performing Germany in Wagner's Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg 173 9 Parsifal: redemption and Kunstreligion 190 Part III Ideas and ideology in the Gesamtkunstwerk 216 10 The urge to communicate: the prose writings as theory and practice 218 11 Critique as passion and polemic: Nietzsche and Wagner 231 12 The Jewish question 242 Part IV After Wagner: influence and interpretation 258 13 "Wagnerism": responses to Wagner in music and the arts 260 14 Wagner and the Third Reich: myths and realities 274 15 Wagner on stage: aesthetic, dramaturgical, and social considerations 285 16 Criticism and analysis: current perspectives 315 Notes 329 Select bibliography 367 Index 377