The Valkyrie: No. 21 (English National Opera Guide) - Softcover

Wagner, Richard; Porter, Andrew

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0714540196 ISBN 13: 9780714540191

Publisher: Calder Publications Ltd, 1989

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 detail?with 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 translation?except 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 this title

From the Back Cover

'Things like this are written only for people who have good powers of endurance (so really for nobody!)', wrote Wagner about The Valkyrie. Yet, as Geoffrey Skelton points out, The Valkyrie has enjoye a separate popularity and existence from The Ring of the Nibelung cycle - that unique four day festival play for which Wagner built a special theatre at Bayreuth. George Gillespie shows just how ('as if by the deft shake of a kaleidoscope') the string of mythical events was converted into a drama remarkable for its concentrated excitement and fine construction. Barry Millington introduces the web of motifs in the complex and beautiful score. Andrew Porter introduces his acclaimed English translation, for the first time complete with Elizabeth Forbes's translation of the verses that Wagner did not eventually set to music but retained as footnotes to his published version.

Edition details

• Publisher: Calder Publications Ltd
• Publication date: 1989
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0714540196
• ISBN 13: 9780714540191
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 112