Wagner Without Fear by William Berger

Wagner Without Fear by William Berger

Do you cringe when your opera-loving friends start raving about the latest production of Tristan? Do you feel faint just thinking about the six-hour performance of Parsifal you were given tickets to? Does your mate accuse you of having a Tannh user complex? If you're baffled by the behavior of Wagner worshipers, if you've longed to fathom the mysteries of Wagner's ever-increasing popularity, or if you just want to better understand and enjoy the performances you're attending, you'll find this delightful book indispensable.

William Berger is the most helpful guide one could hope to find for navigating the strange and beautiful world of the most controversial artist who ever lived. He tells you all you need to know to become a true Wagnerite--from story lines to historical background; from when to visit the rest room to how to sound smart during intermission; from the Jewish legend that possibly inspired Lohengrin to the tragic death of the first Tristan. Funny, informative, and always a pleasure to read, Wagner Without Fear proves that the art of Wagner can be accessible to everyone.

Includes:
- The strange life of Richard Wagner--German patriot (and exile), friend (and enemy) of Liszt and Nietzsche
- Essential opera lore and lobby talk
- A scene-by-scene analysis of each opera
- What to listen for to get the most from the music
- Recommended recordings, films, and sound tracks

William Berger was born in California and attended the University of California, Santa Cruz, where he studied Romance languages and music. He spent five years with the San Francisco Opera Company, where he was in charge of acquiring recorded music for the company's collection and translating for visiting artists. He has taught language at New York City's Baruch College. He worked on James Skofield's text for The Dracula Diaries, an opera with Robert Moran's music, and he recently finished the libretto for Patrick Barnes' The Wolf of Gubbio. Mr. Berger is currently based in New York, where he is working on Karajan's Wake, a performance piece.

SKU	Unavailable
ISBN 13	9780375700545
ISBN 10	0375700544
Title	Wagner Without Fear
Author	William Berger
Condition	Unavailable
Binding Type	Paperback
Publisher	Random House USA Inc
Year published	1998-09-29
Number of pages	464
Cover note	Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary.