The Ring of the Nibelung

by Richard Wagner, John Deathridge (Translator), John Deathridge (Editor), John Deathridge (Introduction), John Deathridge (Noted by)

Overview

Wagner's Der Ring des Nibelungen is one of the most influential theatrical works ever written. It is a powerful music-drama on a grand scale, a full appreciation of which depends on an understanding of exactly what is being sung. Wagner's German was deliberately archaic and romantic; until recently, there has been no singing translation which transmits with genuine feeling the complex and literate text, matching the stress and inflection in the score. This translation, commissioned by the English National Opera Company for their highly successful production of The Ring in English, is the work of Andrew Porter, music critic of The New Yorker. The edition includes a German text and Mr. Porter has provided an essay dealing with the problems of translating the work.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780241422281
Publisher:	Penguin Publishing Group
Publication date:	08/11/2020
Pages:	816
Sales rank:	428,564
Product dimensions:	5.00(w) x 7.70(h) x 1.70(d)

About the Author

Richard Wagner (1813–83) redefined opera and had an overwhelming impact on German and western culture. His major works include Lohengrin, Tannhauser, Tristan and Isolde, Parzival and the four parts of The Ring of the Nibelung: The Rhinegold, The Valkyrie, Siegfried, and Twilight of the Gods.

John Deathridge is one of the world’s most respected experts on the life and work of Richard Wagner. He is Emeritus King Edward Professor of Music at King’s College London. In a long career he has taught music both in the United States and United Kingdom and been active as a conductor, organist, and piano accompanist, as well as making innumerable radio and television appearances to discuss music. He is a specialist in 19th and 20th century German music and the work of Theodor Adorno.

Table of Contents

	Introduction	ix
	The Ring of the Nibelung
	The Rhinegold
Scene 1	On the Bed of the Rhine	3
Scene 2	An Open Space on Mountain Heights	18
Scene 3	The Subterranean Caverns of Nibelheim	38
Scene 4	An Open Space on Mountain Heights	52
	The Valkyrie
Act 1	Inside a Dwelling	75
Act 2	A Wild, Craggy Place	96
Act 3	On the Summit of a Rocky Mountain (the Valkyrie Rock)	126
	Siegfried
Act 1	A Rocky Cave in the Forest	155
Act 2	In the Depths of the Forest	191
Act 3	A Wild Place at the Foot of a Rocky Mountain; then, On the Valkyrie Rock	220
	Twilight of the Gods
	Prelude: On the Valkyrie Rock	247
Act 1	The Gibichung Hall on the Rhine; then, On the Valkyrie Rock	257
Act 2	In front of the Gibichung Hall	281
Act 3	A Wild, Wooded and Rocky Valley on the Rhine; then, the Gibichung Hall	306

Editorial Reviews

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–The New York Times

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