The Nibelung's Ring
Condition: SECONDHAND
This is a secondhand book. The jacket image is a photograph of the exact copy we have in stock. This image shows the condition of this book. Further condition remarks are below.
Condition remarks:
Book: Good
Jacket: Wear and tear with damage
Pages: Tanning and foxing
Markings: Previous owner
Few artistic achievements in Western civilization match the ambition and grandeur of Richard Wagner's monumental opera cycle, and The Nibelung's Ring by Aylmer Buesst stands as an indispensable companion to understanding it. Conceived as a practical handbook for audiences approaching Wagner's four-opera masterwork — Das Rheingold, Die Walküre, Siegfried, and Götterdämmerung — this guide illuminates the labyrinthine mythological narratives, complex leitmotifs, and dramatic architecture that make the Ring Cycle one of the most challenging and rewarding experiences in all of opera. Structured with the audience's journey in mind, it provides guidance before, during, and after each performance, making it a uniquely functional work of musical scholarship. Buesst, a conductor and musician of considerable erudition, presents the material with authoritative clarity, stripping away the intimidating complexity of Wagner's world to reveal the human and mythic drama beneath. His writing bridges the gap between academic musicology and the engaged listener, ensuring that devotees and first-time attendees alike gain a richer appreciation of Wagner's towering ambition. Whether one is preparing for their first encounter with the Ring or seeking deeper insight after years of attendance, this handbook remains a testament to the enduring power of Wagner's vision — and leaves one wondering how anyone ever dared sit through those sixteen hours without it.
Author: Aylmer Buesst
Format: Hardback
Published: 1952, Newman Neame
Genre: Music
Condition remarks:
Book: Good
Jacket: Wear and tear with damage
Pages: Tanning and foxing
Markings: Previous owner
Few artistic achievements in Western civilization match the ambition and grandeur of Richard Wagner's monumental opera cycle, and The Nibelung's Ring by Aylmer Buesst stands as an indispensable companion to understanding it. Conceived as a practical handbook for audiences approaching Wagner's four-opera masterwork — Das Rheingold, Die Walküre, Siegfried, and Götterdämmerung — this guide illuminates the labyrinthine mythological narratives, complex leitmotifs, and dramatic architecture that make the Ring Cycle one of the most challenging and rewarding experiences in all of opera. Structured with the audience's journey in mind, it provides guidance before, during, and after each performance, making it a uniquely functional work of musical scholarship. Buesst, a conductor and musician of considerable erudition, presents the material with authoritative clarity, stripping away the intimidating complexity of Wagner's world to reveal the human and mythic drama beneath. His writing bridges the gap between academic musicology and the engaged listener, ensuring that devotees and first-time attendees alike gain a richer appreciation of Wagner's towering ambition. Whether one is preparing for their first encounter with the Ring or seeking deeper insight after years of attendance, this handbook remains a testament to the enduring power of Wagner's vision — and leaves one wondering how anyone ever dared sit through those sixteen hours without it.