The Genius of Valhalla: The Life of Reginald Goodall - Softcover

Lucas, John

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1843835177 ISBN 13: 9781843835172

Publisher: Boydell Press, 2009

Synopsis

When Sir Reginald Goodall died in 1990, at the age of 88, he had already acquired cult status and was considered one of the greatest Wagner conductors of our times. Although he had conducted the première of Benjamin Britten's Peter Grimes in 1945 and was admired by Erich Kleiber and Otto Klemperer, he suffered years of neglect until his triumphant return to conduct Die Meistersinger at Sadler's Wells in 1968.

John Lucas, author of the acclaimed Thomas Beecham: An Obsession with Music, examines the mysteries of Goodall's early career, his Mosleyite sympathies, his remarkable late flowering and the fame of his last 20 years. Drawing upon letters and diaries as well as extensive interviews with friends and colleagues, Lucas pieces together the life of this enigmatic, self-effacing figure - a great Wagner conductor in a tradition stretching back through Knappertsbusch and Karl Muck to Hans Richter.

Previously available as Reggie: The Life of Reginald Goodall - now available for the first time in paperback with a new Preface and Introduction. Published in association with the Peter Moores Foundation.

About this title

Product Description:

Reginald Goodall (1901-1990) conducted the triumphant 1945 premiere of Britten's Peter Grimes, but it was not until the Wagner performances of his last two decades that he became well known. In this update of his 1993 book Reggie, John Lucas uses letters, diaries and interviews with Goodall himself to unravel the mysteries of his early life and wartime Mosleyite sympathies; he also catalogues the frustrations of Goodall's years at Covent Garden and the positive critical responses to his Ring cycle.

Review:

Lucas's fine biography (which carries the benefit of access to plenty of personal Goodall material) will continue to stir curiosity far into the future. CLASSICAL MUSIC [Editor's Choice]
Lucas gives a sympathetic yet judicious account of [Goodall]...The quality of research is high...and although the author clearly has a high personal regard for his subject there is no sense whatever of uncritical adulation. WAGNER JOURNAL
This is an inspiring story. OPERA NEWS
Superbly researched and sympathetic. DAILY TELEGRAPH
Engrossing and deeply affectionate. THE SPECTATOR
Marvellously informative. OBSERVER
An engrossing and informative read...I recommend this book with enthusiasm. FANFARE

About this edition

• Publisher: Boydell Press
• Publication date: 2009
• ISBN 10: 1843835177
• ISBN 13: 9781843835172
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 264