Wagner's Ring Cycle and the Greeks

Through his reading of primary and secondary classical sources, as well as his theoretical writings, Richard Wagner developed a Hegelian-inspired theory linking the evolution of classical Greek politics and poetry. This book demonstrates how, by turning theory into practice, Wagner used this evolutionary paradigm to shape the music and the libretto of the Ring cycle. Foster describes how each of the Ring's operas represents a particular phase of Greek poetic and political development: Das Rheingold and Die Walk re create epic national identity in its earlier and later stages respectively; Siegfried expresses lyric personal identity; and G tterd mmerung destructively culminates with a tragi-comedy about civic identity. This study sees the Greeks through the lens of those scholars whose work influenced Wagner most, focusing on epic, lyric, and comedy, as well as Greek tragedy. Most significantly, the book interrogates the ways in which Wagner uses Greek aesthetics to further his own ideological goals.

Author: Daniel H. Foster
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Published: 04/01/2010
Pages: 398
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 1.45lbs
Size: 9.00h x 6.00w x 0.90d
ISBN: 9780521517393

About the Author
Foster, Daniel H.: - Daniel H. Foster is Assistant Professor of Theater Studies at Duke University, and Visiting Scholar at the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.