The Ideas of Richard Wagner: An Examination and Analysis

by Alan David Aberbach

Overview

This book presents composer Richard Wagner's formative ideas in a systematic and coherent manner and examines their development and evolution as reflected in his prose, poetry , letters, and music-dramas. In addition to incorporating numerous letters previously unavailable, the second edition has been thoroughly reorganized. As Wagner's political and religious ideas conditioned the works and music he wrote, considerable attention is now placed on the development and evolution of his major thoughts, showing how they evolved and became incorporated into his music.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780761825241
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Academic
Publication date:	04/08/2003
Edition description:	Second Edition
Pages:	466
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.50(h) x 1.04(d)

About the Author

Alan David Aberbach is Director, Opera Studies and Retired Associate Professor of History at Simon Fraser University.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 Preface
Chapter 2 Acknowledgements
Chapter 3 A Brief Time Line
Chapter 4 The Political Stage: From Radical to Revolutionary to Political Outcast; Politics, the Ring, and the End of the Old Order; "The German Spirit"; Hans Sachs: The German Spirit and the Thinking Man
Chapter 5 The Spiritual and Religious Stage: Early Thoughts on Religion; Spiritual Dimensions in The Flying Dutchman, Tannhäuser, and Lohengrin; Jesus of Nazareth, the Universal God-man, "Judaism in Music" and Wagner's Jewish Associates; Mystical
Chapter 6 The Artistic Stage: Innovation and Creativity; The Future of German Music
Chapter 7 Epilogue
Chapter 8 Notes
Chapter 9 Bibliography
Chapter 10 Index

Editorial Reviews

In aiming to define Richard Wagner's fundamental convictions and intellectual positions, Alan David Aberbach has set himself a Herculean task. Taking the measure of all this literature, one recognizes how unmanageable a mass of material Aberbach has successfully commanded.. .. Aberbach does just what he had intended- to 'let Wagner speak for himself'- but his skill at paraphrasing and interweaving his sources gives added coherence and consistency to the thoughts the composer first set forth. The resulting study throws a bright light on its subject and thus stands ready to serve the needs of those who have wanted to know all about Wagner's ideas but feared they had no time to find out.

Opera Quarterly - Christopher Hatch

It is a fascinating and comprehensive treatment of a very wide range of Wagner's ideas, and its approach will capture the serious Wagner scholar as much as it will capture the passionate opera-lover.

Wagner Society Of Nz Newsletter - Heather Lees

It is a fascinating and comprehensive treatment of a very wide range of Wagner's ideas, and its approach will capture the serious Wagner scholar as much as it will capture the passionate opera-lover.--Heather Lees "Wagner Society Of Nz Newsletter "

In aiming to define Richard Wagner's fundamental convictions and intellectual positions, Alan David Aberbach has set himself a Herculean task. Taking the measure of all this literature, one recognizes how unmanageable a mass of material Aberbach has successfully commanded. . . . Aberbach does just what he had intended- to 'let Wagner speak for himself'- but his skill at paraphrasing and interweaving his sources gives added coherence and consistency to the thoughts the composer first set forth. The resulting study throws a bright light on its subject and thus stands ready to serve the needs of those who have wanted to know all about Wagner's ideas but feared they had no time to find out.--Christopher Hatch "Opera Quarterly "

From the Publisher

It is a fascinating and comprehensive treatment of a very wide range of Wagner's ideas, and its approach will capture the serious Wagner scholar as much as it will capture the passionate opera-lover.
— Heather Lees

Wagner Society Of Nz Newsletter

In aiming to define Richard Wagner's fundamental convictions and intellectual positions, Alan David Aberbach has set himself a Herculean task. Taking the measure of all this literature, one recognizes how unmanageable a mass of material Aberbach has successfully commanded. . . . Aberbach does just what he had intended- to 'let Wagner speak for himself'- but his skill at paraphrasing and interweaving his sources gives added coherence and consistency to the thoughts the composer first set forth. The resulting study throws a bright light on its subject and thus stands ready to serve the needs of those who have wanted to know all about Wagner's ideas but feared they had no time to find out.
— Christopher Hatch

Opera Quarterly