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Ring of the Nibelung: Opera Explained
- Narrated by: Stephen Johnson
- Length: 2 hrs and 39 mins
- Categories: Arts & Entertainment, Music
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Tristan und Isolde centres around two lovers who dream of romantic love and yearn for oblivion. No composer had written such a work before. Turning his back on traditional tonality, Wagner changed the course of Western music with Tristan und Isolde. But there’s also fact behind the fiction: while he wrote his opera Wagner was in love with another’s man’s wife, Mathilde Wesendonk. So Tristan and Isolde are also Richard and Mathilde.
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A good place to start
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The Flying Dutchman is the perfect opera with which to approach the operatic mountain that is Richard Wagner. It is short, has a great story (the legend of the Dutch captain doomed to sail forever unless redeemed through love), and the striking score has many pre-echoes of Wagner's later great music dramas. It contains wonderful tunes in its arias, ensembles, and big choruses, and the orchestral writing - from the gale that blows out of the Overture to the final theme of "Redemption through Love" - will "blow you away".
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Jazz is a uniquely American art form, one of America's great contributions to not only musical culture, but world culture, with each generation of musicians applying new levels of creativity that take the music in unexpected directions that defy definition, category, and stagnation.
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A nice introduction but needs more content
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Carmen is among the most popular operas for all the obvious reasons: great characters, a gripping story, and fabulous music. But what sets it on a pinnacle is an amazing combination of three factors: a sizzling Gipsy heroine (one of the most psychologically complex and compelling characters in all theatre), great atmosphere (Spain, hot sun, the bull-ring), and the prodigality of melodic invention - one great tune after another, at least a dozen of which are the staples of Madison Avenue and the animated cartoon.
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Excellent introduction.
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Overall
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Tristan und Isolde
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- Length: 1 hr and 19 mins
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Overall
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Performance
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Tristan und Isolde centres around two lovers who dream of romantic love and yearn for oblivion. No composer had written such a work before. Turning his back on traditional tonality, Wagner changed the course of Western music with Tristan und Isolde. But there’s also fact behind the fiction: while he wrote his opera Wagner was in love with another’s man’s wife, Mathilde Wesendonk. So Tristan and Isolde are also Richard and Mathilde.
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A good place to start
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Wagner
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- By: Stephen Johnson
- Narrated by: Stephen Johnson
- Length: 8 hrs and 56 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Well over a century after Wagner's death, the man and his music are as controversial as ever. Praised for his profound insights into the workings of the human heart, he has also been condemned as a dangerous libertine, a proto-fascist and an arrogant bore. His vast four-part operatic Ring cycle has been elevated as one of the greatest achievements of western culture and dismissed as an unparalleled example of creative megalomania.
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- Length: 1 hr and 7 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The Flying Dutchman is the perfect opera with which to approach the operatic mountain that is Richard Wagner. It is short, has a great story (the legend of the Dutch captain doomed to sail forever unless redeemed through love), and the striking score has many pre-echoes of Wagner's later great music dramas. It contains wonderful tunes in its arias, ensembles, and big choruses, and the orchestral writing - from the gale that blows out of the Overture to the final theme of "Redemption through Love" - will "blow you away".
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Overall
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Overall
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Performance
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Excellent introduction.
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- Original Recording
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Overall
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Performance
-
Story
La Traviata owes its enduring popularity to a superb story of young love and fatal sacrifice, set to music by Italy’s master melodist at the peak of his powers. Interest and poignancy are added by the fact that this is a true story - the baritone ‘heavy’ is Alexander Dumas who wrote The Count of Monte Cristo. But it is the central figure, the heroine Violetta, the archetypal ‘whore with the heart of gold’ who dominates the piece. It is her opera and we love her for it.
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Editor reviews
As part of the Opera Explained series, Stephen Johnson takes a look at, what he calls, "the biggest and most ambitious work in the history of music": Wagner’s Ring of the Nibelung. The epic four part opera which draws upon Nordic and Germanic legend has gained a prestigious status, with dedicated followers eager to sit through the lengthy experience.
Johnson discusses the story of gods and men, passion and violence; the history of the piece, with its notorious and oft deliberated connections to Nazi Germany; and the music itself, which transcends any negative context it or its author might have been associated with. Johnson’s measured analysis and thoughtful reflection is interspersed with clips from the opera that will delight any Ring fanatic or opera enthusiast.Summary
Wagner’s Ring cycle is the most ambitious work in the history of music: four operas that combine to tell a single epic story. Based in legend, it has become a legend in its own right: a supreme challenge for conductors, singers, opera producers, and indeed for audiences. But for all its grandeur and complexity, The Ring is far more accessible than many music lovers think.
This audiobook guide explains the basics of the plot, profiles the leading characters, and shows how Wagner’s revolutionary music adds fascinating layers of meaning and psychological insight, as well as providing some of the most stirring and intoxicating moments in the entire operatic repertoire.
PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your My Library section along with the audio.
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What listeners say about Ring of the Nibelung: Opera Explained
Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- Kindle Customer
- 25-08-18
I should have listened to this thirty years ago.
I should have listened to this before seeing wagner s operas. So eye opening and fascinating
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- Roberto
- 14-06-17
Start here
Wagner's great work can appear daunting to the novice: you don't know how to approach it or where to start. This audio book is the perfect answer to your dilemma. I have found it to be an excellent guide and introduction. The mixture of narrative, explanation and musical illustration is very informative and interesting. I feel now that I have the confidence to tackle the entire work.. I would recommend everyone to listen to this first: you will not be disappointed.
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- Barry
- 13-04-13
Clearing Up The Legend
A well read and well presented piece that not only covers the stories of the four operas, but gives useful insights into the structure of the music, the recurring musical themes and the innovations that Wagner introduced. I listened to this in conjunction with a DVD set of the complete cycle and it increased my understanding and enjoyment of the works greatly.
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- Adeliese Baumann
- 24-11-12
Der Ring des Nibelung
In this brief introduction Johnson takes us from the opening e-flat of the Das Rheingold to the consuming flames of Götterdämmerung. Discussions of staging, orchestration, plot development, mythic elements and more are interspersed with musical excerpts.
Wagner designed the tetralogy to begin with the Vorabend, (a "preliminary evening") in which Das Rheingold is perfomed, followed by the succession of the operas Die Walküre, Siegfried, and Götterdämmerung. Johnson makes an admirable presentation of each part of the cycle without excessive digression.
Of course, countless volumes have been devoted to the discussion of meaning, leitmotif, scoring, and all things Wagnerian, should one want to look deeper. But for a brief discussion of Ring essentials, look no further.
These operas share a somewhat daunting reputation. Even opera fans have been known to quaver before Valhalla! But don't be one of them. Listen to this book, then jump right in. Some of the most beautiful music ever written awaits you.
13 people found this helpful
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- Tim Pillar
- 06-03-18
A concise and well structured overview
Loved this overview with the very well chosen musical excerpts. This book suits the amateur 'Wagnerian' like myself and is superbly narrated by the author. If you love Wagner's music and want to extend your understanding of these 'Operas' this is the book for you..