The Tristan Chord: Wagner and Philosophy

Magee, Bryan

ISBN 10: 080507189X / ISBN 13: 9780805071894

Published by Picador, 2002

About this Item

This is a used book in good condition and may show some signs of use or wear . This is a used book in good condition and may show some signs of use or wear .

Seller Inventory # mon0003348484

Bibliographic Details

• Title: The Tristan Chord: Wagner and Philosophy
• Publisher: Picador
• Publication Date: 2002
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 080507189X
• ISBN 13: 9780805071894
• Binding: paperback
• Condition: Good

About this title

Synopsis

Richard Wagner's devotees have ranged from the subtlest minds (Proust) to the most brutal (Hitler). The enduring fascination with his works arises not only from his singular fusion of musical innovation and theatrical daring, but also from his largely overlooked engagement with the boldest investigations of modern philosophy. In this radically clarifying book, Bryan Magee traces Wagner's intellectual quests, from his youthful embrace of revolutionary socialism to the near-Buddhist resignation of his final years. Magee shows how abstract thought can permeate music and stimulate creations of great power and beauty. And he unflinchingly confronts the Wagner whose paranoia, egocentricity, and anti-Semitism are as repugnant as his achievements are glorious.

At once a biography of the composer, an overview of his times, and an exploration of the intellectual and technical aspects of music, Magee's lucid study offers the best explanation of W. H. Auden's judgment that Wagner, for all his notoriety, was "perhaps the greatest genius that ever lived."

About the Author

Bryan Magee has had a distinguished career as a university professor, music and theater critic, member of Parliament, and author. He is well known for two popular BBC television series on philosophy. Among his internationally acclaimed books are The Story of Philosophy, The Philosophy of Schopenhauer, and Aspects of Wagner.