Wagner's Tristan and Isolde Exploring Love Sex and the Sacred
$ 20.8
Description
A tale of forbidden love and inevitable death, the medieval legend of Tristan and Isolde recounts the story of two lovers unknowingly drinking a magic potion and ultimately dying in one anothers arms. While critics have lauded Wagners Tristan and Isolde for the originality and subtlety of the music, they have denounced the drama as a "mere trifle"--a rendering of Wagners forbidden love for Matilde Wesendonck, the wife of a banker who supported him during his exile in Switzerland. Death-Devoted Heart explodes this established interpretation, proving the drama to be more than just a sublimation of the composers love for Wesendonck or a wistful romantic dream. Scruton boldly attests that Tristan and Isolde has profound religious meaning and remains as relevant today as it was to Wagners contemporaries. He also offers keen insight into the nature of erotic love, the sacred qualities of human passion, and the peculiar place of the erotic in our culture. His argument touches on the nature of tragedy, the significance of ritual sacrifice, and the meaning of redemption, providing a fresh interpretation of Wagners masterpiece. Roger Scruton has written an original and provocative account of Wagners music drama, which blends philosophy, criticism, and musicology in order to show the works importance in the twenty-first century.
This book dives deep into Wagner's *Tristan and Isolde*, challenging old critiques with fresh insight. The author brilliantly connects the opera’s themes of love and sacrifice to broader philosophical and musical ideas, making it a must-read for Wagner fans and scholars. The analysis is sharp yet accessible, revealing layers often overlooked. A captivating exploration of passion, fate, and artistry!