Overview

Once tainted by association with Hitler and Nazism, Richard Wagner's work has experienced an international cultural renaissance in the last 25 years. His magnum opus, Der Ring des Nibelungen, which took him over 20 years to finish, is a complex tale with themes of greed, corruption and loss, spun out in more than 16 hours of powerfully moving opera. This book, with provocative essays for both the uninitiated and the seasoned fan, examines Wagner's Ring cycle from a wide array of modern perspectives. Divided into six parts, this anthology first offers a foundation for the Ring, with a chronology and an introduction, along with a look at Wagner as an enterprising marketer. Part Two explores different interpretations of the Ring, with reference to politics, romanticism and international inspirations. Part Three studies the complex relationship between Wagner's Ring and Germany, with a summary of the opera's influence on German culture and a discussion of its Munich premiere. Part Four offers a production history, including studies of the Ring's effects in America and its influence on world literature. Part Five provides a technical examination of language in the Ring, as well as an interview with the famous Wagnerian soprano Jane Eaglen. The book concludes with an essay on the trouble with Wagnerian opera and an overview of the recorded Ring on disc, video and print.

Full Product Details

Author:   John Louis DiGaetani
Publisher:   McFarland & Co Inc
Imprint:   McFarland & Co Inc
Dimensions:   Width: 17.80cm , Height: 1.40cm , Length: 25.40cm
Weight:   0.472kg
ISBN:  

9780786423309

ISBN 10:   0786423307
Pages:   268
Publication Date:   13 March 2006
Recommended Age:   From 18 years
Audience:   College/higher education ,  Professional and scholarly ,  Undergraduate ,  Postgraduate, Research & Scholarly
Format:   Paperback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Availability:   Available To Order  
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Table of Contents

Table of Contents Acknowledgments      Preface      A Ring Chronology      Introduction: The Cycles in the Cycle      I. The Foundation 1. The Golden Ring in a Golden Age      2. Selling the Ring: Richard Wagner’s “Enterprise”      II. Interpretations 3. Gold Rules: The Politics of Wagner’s Ring      4. Romanticism in the Ring      5. The Ring: An Italian Dream Set in Switzerland      III. The Ring and Germany 6. Wagner’s Ring and German Culture: Performances and Interpretations On and Off Stage      7. Wagner’s Ring Premiere in Munich      8. Transgression and Taboo: Eros, Marriage, and Incest in Die Walküre      IV. Production and Influence of the Ring 9. A Select Production History of the Ring      10. The Ring in America      11. Wagnerian Opera's Influence on World Literature      V. The Language and Music of the Ring 12. The Language of the Ring      13. An Interview with Jane Eaglen      VI. Conclusion 14. The Trouble with Wagner      15. The Ring on Disc and on Video      About the Contributors      Index     

Reviews

I can aver that I found much to enjoy and learn here. For instance, the interview with Eaglen alone is worth the price of the book...Inside the Ring contains many nuggets of gold, not the least of which is the bibliography, which lists audio and video resources, books, librettos, and music--Wagner Notes.

“I can aver that I found much to enjoy and learn here. For instance, the interview with Eaglen alone is worth the price of the book...Inside the Ring contains many nuggets of gold, not the least of which is the bibliography, which lists audio and video resources, books, librettos, and music—Wagner Notes.

Author Information

John Louis DiGaetani, professor emeritus of English at Hofstra University, is the author of numerous books about opera and theater.

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