Richard Wagner's Music Dramas (Paperback) (ISBN-13: 9780521428996)

Previous studies of Wagner's operas have tended to approach the works as chunks of autobiography, philosophical speculations or historical-political comments on the age in which they were written. Professor Dahlhaus dissociated himself from all such ventures. His aim is to reveal, by careful analysis of the works from Der fliegende Hollander to Parsifal, the dominant features of 'music drama' and how Wagner achieves such profound, unified effects. Professor Dahlhaus cites music examples only when they are germane to his argument and requires from his readers no more than a limited amount of technical musical knowledge. This is not, therefore, an exclusively specialist study. Rather it will help the enthusiastic beginner to come to terms with these great works of art as well as offering many valuable insights to the experienced Wagnerian. The book will be of interest to students and scholars of music history, theory, opera and philosophy.

Author: Carl Dahlhaus
ISBN-10: 0521428998
ISBN-13: 9780521428996
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Language: English
Published: 03/26/1992
Pages: 168
Format: Paperback
Weight: 0.55lbs
Size: 8.95h x 5.96w x 0.50d