Die Walkre (The Valkyrie)

(Paperback)

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Description

'Things like this are written only for people who have good powers of endurance (so really for nobody!),' wrote Wagner about Die Walkure. Yet, as Geoffrey Skelton points out, the opera has enjoyed a separate popularity and existence from The Ring of the Nibelung cycle - that unique four-day festival for which Wagner built a special theatre at Bayreuth. George Gillespie shows just how ('As if by the deft shake of a kaleidoscope') the string of mythical events was converted into a drama remarkable for its concentrated excitement and fine construction. Barry Millington introduces the web of motifs in the complex and beautiful score. The English version, for the first time complete with Elizabeth Forbes's translation of the verses that Wagner did not eventually set to music but retained as footnotes to his published version, is by acclaimed translator Andrew Porter.

Reviews

Brilliantly produced and superb value. * Sunday Times *
All these will provide the new opera-goer with food for thought. * Daily Telegraph *
Wholehearted recommendation of this valuable new series. * TLS *

Author Bio

Richard Wagner (181383) was a composer who drew inspiration from Christian and Nordic mythology, as well as the philosophy of Schopenhauer, to pioneer dramatically new forms of music. His concept of the Total Artwork led to the construction of the Bayreuth Festspielhaus, an opera house he designed specifically for productions of his own operas. He also wrote widely on music and art. His operas include Tristan und Isolde, Die Meistersinger von Nrnberg and the four parts of Der Ring des Nibelungen.