Götterdämmerung (Twilight of the Gods): (English National Opera Guide 31) - Softcover

Wagner, Richard

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0714544329 ISBN 13: 9780714544328

Publisher: Overture Publishing, 2011

Synopsis

English National Opera Guides are ideal companions to the opera. They provide stimulating introductory articles together with the complete text of each opera in English and the original. Richard Wagner's fifteen-hour operatic cycle The Ring of the Nibelung ends with this great music drama. Michael Tanner's essay tackles the scale and meaning not just of this work but of Wagner's whole undertaking, showing that Götterdämmerung is - for all its length - his fastest-moving drama. Composer Robin Holloway brings the focus of creative genius to his discussion of the score, while Christopher Winkle's article analyses Brunnhilde's concluding monologue. The ninety numbered musical themes of the Thematic Guide are cross-referenced to the other Ring guides.

About this title

Review:

Goetterdaemmerung (The Twilight of the Gods) is the fourth and last of Wagner's mighty cycle of operas based on ancient Germanic sagas and myths of gods and heroes. The undauntable and mighty Siegfried awakens the sleeping Valkyrie Brunnhilde, and finally learns the meaning of fear when he falls in love with her. But he soon feels the need to go adventuring, and makes the mistake of landing at the Gibichung hall, where Gunther seeks to gain fame with the aid of his half-brother Hagen (son of the vindictive dwarf Alberich) and their sister Gutrune. Hagen drugs Siegfried, causing him to forget his former life with Brunnhilde and to fall in love with Gutrune. Siegfried, disguised, then brings Brunnhilde to wed Gunther. But Brunnhilde, who is furious, schemes with Hagen to kill the hero. When his bier is brought to the hall after a fatal hunting party, she sets it alight and then rides onto it herself; with this fire, Valhalla itself is turned to flames, and the end of the gods is at hand. Hagen is drowned by the Rhinemaidens, who reclaim the magic gold whose power set this complex saga into motion. The world is reborn, to be inherited by mere men and women.

Rudolph Sabor is a master translator. He does a superb job of recasting Wagner's words into readable English while still retaining all the tricks of meter and alliteration that are so important to Goetterdaemmerung; this could well be used as a singing translation. The book has other help for students, including side comments on the action, drama, and background, and it tells readers where each of the leitmotifs occurs. The bibliography, discography, and other references make this an extremely useful package for anyone who wants to know more about this ne plus ultra of the operatic world.

About the Author:

Richard Wagner (1813-83) was a composer who drew inspiration from Christian and Nordic mythology, as well as the philosophy of Schopenhauer, to pioneer dramatically new forms of music. His concept of the "Total Artwork" led to the construction of the Bayreuth Festspielhaus, an opera house he designed specifically for productions of his own operas. He also wrote widely on music and art. His operas include Tristan und Isolde, Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg and the four parts of Der Ring des Nibelungen.

About this edition

• Publisher: Overture Publishing
• Publication date: 2011
• ISBN 10: 0714544329
• ISBN 13: 9780714544328
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 130