Wagner: A Biography

Originally published in 1981, this is a one-volume paperback edition of Dr von Westernhagen's distinguished biography of Nietzche.

Curt von Westernhagen (Author), Mary Whittall (Translated by)

9780521282543, Cambridge University Press

Paperback, published 30 April 1981

714 pages
22.9 x 15.2 x 4 cm, 1.03 kg

Originally published in 1981, this is a one-volume paperback edition of Dr von Westernhagen's distinguished biography, first published in English by Cambridge University Press as a hardcover edition in two volumes. Its distinction was that it made use of fresh archive material, and took as its starting point the supreme greatness of Wagner's artistry. Dr von Westerhagen quotes extensively from letters and diaries to throw light, for example, on Wagner's estrangement from Nietzsche. The author also consulted the contents of the composer's Dresden library and teenage composition exercises written for his teacher, Theodor Weinlig, to establish early influences upon him. Particularly useful features of this study are the appendices which include a chronological summary of Wagner's life, a complete list of his musical and literary compositions and a large bibliography. This is a definitive biography which stands beside Newman's classic work as an indispensable reference book for all studies of Wagner.

Volume 1: List of illustrations
Preface
Postscript to the preface
Acknowledgements
Summary bibliography
Part I. The Early Years (1813–1840): 1. The Wagner family
2. Wagner's mother
3. Boyhood
4. Beethoven
5. Studiosus musicae
6. The first three operas
7. Rienzi
Part II. The First Creative Period (1841–1848): 8. Der Fliegende Holländer
9. Tannhäuser
10. Hofkapellmeister in Dresden
11. Germanic myth and Greek Tragedy
12. Lohengrin
13. Money troubles
Part III. The Revolutionary (1848–1852): 14. Revolutionary ideas
15. Wieland der Schmied
16. From heroic opera to mythic drama
Part IV. Der Ring des Niebelungen (I) (1853–1857): 17. The vision of La Spezia
18. The myth becomes music
19. The London inferno
20. The Ring crisis
Part V. Tristan and Die Meistersinger (1857–1868): 21. In Asyl
22. Venice and Lucerne
23. Tannhäuser in Paris
24. Odyssey
Notes to volume 1. Volume 2: 25. Munich
26. Die Meistersinger
Part VI. Der Ring des Niebelungen (II) (1868–1877): 27. From Tribschen to Bayreuth
28. The first festival
29. Nietzche in Bayreuth
30. The nation's thanks
Part VII. Parsifal (1877–1883): 31. 'My Farewell to the World'
32. La lugubre gondola
Appendices
Chronological summary of Wagner's life and work
List of works
Correspondence of Richard and Cosina Wagner
Notes to volume 2
Bibliography
Index to volumes 1 and 2.

Subject Areas: Opera [AVGC9]