Synopses & Reviews
An essential companion for anyone seeking a deeper understanding of Wagner's final masterpiece This guide includes a series of articles on Wagner's profound and complex opera, which the composer preferred to call a "Bühnenweihfestspiel"a "festival work to consecrate a stage." The first, by Mike Ashman, explores the ideological background to the opera, both political and philosophical. Dieter Borchmeyer discusses Parsifal's mythological foundations and relation to Wagner's earlier works. Robin Holloway provides a study of the opera's musical motifs, while Carolyn Abbate examines the relation between music and drama in the opera. Finally, Gerd Rienäcker contributes an essay on the dramaturgy of Parsifal, analyzing some of the major scenes. The guide also contains a literal translation of the libretto opposite the original German text.
Review
"...exceptionally helpful." —Definitely the Opera
Synopsis
The English National Opera Guides were originally conceived in partnership with the English National Opera and edited by Nicholas John, the ENO's dramaturg, who died tragically in an accident in the Alps. Most of the guides are devoted to a single opera, which is described in detailwith many articles that cover its history and information about the composer and his times. The complete libretto is included in both the original language and in a modern singing translationexcept where the opera was written in English. Each has a thematic guide to the most important musical themes in musical notation and each guide is lavishly illustrated. They also contain a bibliography and a discography which is updated at each reprint. The ENO guides are widely regarded as the best series of their kind and excellent value.
About the Author
Richard Wagner (18131883) 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 operas include Tristan und Isolde, Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg, and the four parts of Der Ring des Nibelungen.