Bernard Shaw's "The Perfect Wagnerite: A Commentary on the Ring of the Niblung" is a major work. This book offers an in-depth examination of Richard Wagner's famous opera cycle "Der Ring des Nibelungen." Shaw's commentary delves into the complex strata of Wagner's magnum opus, providing a multidimensional assessment that goes beyond typical music analysis. He introduces readers to Wagnerian mythology, complex character relationships, and the overarching plot, frequently through the lens of socialism and revolutionary thought. Shaw's opinion that the Ring Cycle might be viewed as a parable for societal reform is one of his core arguments. He sees the demise of the gods and the return of the ring to the Rhine as a metaphor for the inevitable collapse of repressive society systems and the possibility of a more egalitarian future. Shaw's distinct wit and intellectual depth shine through throughout the book as he connects with Wagner's work. His commentary extends beyond musical criticism to include political and philosophical implications. Shaw's approach encourages readers to evaluate Wagner's music dramas in the light of a broader cultural and historical backdrop. In conclusion, George Bernard Shaw's "The Perfect Wagnerite" is a thought-provoking and enduring investigation of Wagner's vast operatic masterpiece, providing readers with a novel perspective that mixes musical analysis with socio-political criticism.

The renowned Irish playwright George Bernard Shaw's philosophical commentary on German theatre director Richard Wagner's 'The Niblung's Ring'. This essay+review was first published in the year 1898.

Embark on a journey through the intricate layers of Wagner's Ring Cycle with Bernard Shaw as your guide. The Perfect Wagnerite: A Commentary on the Niblung's Ring by Bernard Shaw: Embark on a journey into the world of Richard Wagner's epic opera with Bernard Shaw's The Perfect Wagnerite. This insightful commentary provides a key to unlocking the intricate layers of the Niblung's Ring, offering a guide to both seasoned enthusiasts and newcomers to the world of Wagner. Shaw's passionate analysis and deep appreciation for the art form make this commentary an indispensable companion for opera lovers. Why This Book? The Perfect Wagnerite is not just a commentary; it's a gateway into the rich tapestry of Wagner's operatic masterpiece. Bernard Shaw's keen insights and accessible explanations make this book an essential companion for anyone seeking to understand and appreciate the nuances of the Niblung's Ring. Bernard Shaw, a prolific Irish playwright and music critic, brings his signature wit and analytical prowess to Wagner's operatic world in The Perfect Wagnerite.

Though remembered primarily as a playwright and novelist, Irish writer George Bernard Shaw was an insatiably curious intellect whose interests encompassed a broad array of topics. This exegesis on Wagner's Ring cycle relates the opera series to ideas like capitalism and mythological archetypes.

Alex Ross, renowned New Yorker music critic and author of the international bestseller and Pulitzer Prize finalist The Rest Is Noise, reveals how Richard Wagner became the proving ground for modern art and politics—an aesthetic war zone where the Western world wrestled with its capacity for beauty and violence. For better or worse, Wagner is the most widely influential figure in the history of music. Around 1900, the phenomenon known as Wagnerism saturated European and American culture. Such colossal creations as The Ring of the Nibelung, Tristan und Isolde, and Parsifal were models of formal daring, mythmaking, erotic freedom, and mystical speculation. A mighty procession of artists, including Virginia Woolf, Thomas Mann, Paul Cézanne, Isadora Duncan, and Luis Buñuel, felt his impact. Anarchists, occultists, feminists, and gay-rights pioneers saw him as a kindred spirit. Then Adolf Hitler incorporated Wagner into the soundtrack of Nazi Germany, and the composer came to be defined by his ferocious antisemitism. For many, his name is now almost synonymous with artistic evil. In Wagnerism, Alex Ross restores the magnificent confusion of what it means to be a Wagnerian. A pandemonium of geniuses, madmen, charlatans, and prophets do battle over Wagner’s many-sided legacy. As readers of his brilliant articles for The New Yorker have come to expect, Ross ranges thrillingly across artistic disciplines, from the architecture of Louis Sullivan to the novels of Philip K. Dick, from the Zionist writings of Theodor Herzl to the civil-rights essays of W.E.B. Du Bois, from O Pioneers! to Apocalypse Now. In many ways, Wagnerism tells a tragic tale. An artist who might have rivaled Shakespeare in universal reach is undone by an ideology of hate. Still, his shadow lingers over twenty-first century culture, his mythic motifs coursing through superhero films and fantasy fiction. Neither apologia nor condemnation, Wagnerism is a work of passionate discovery, urging us toward a more honest idea of how art acts in the world.

A commentary on Richard Wagner's opera "The Niblung's Ring."

In this classic work, Shaw provides a detailed analysis of Wagner's Ring Cycle, offering insights into the music, characters, and themes of the epic operatic masterpiece. Shaw's commentary is incisive, witty, and accessible, making it an essential read for music lovers, opera fans, and anyone interested in the art of interpretation. With its engaging style and illuminating insights, The Perfect Wagnerite is a timeless classic that continues to captivate readers over a century after its initial publication. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

As a commentator on music and music critics, Bernard Shaw was experienced and knowledgeable, strongly opinionated, and, as in all his writing, unsurpassed for brilliance and wit. The reader will find that this commentary on the cycle of four Wagner operas known as "The Ring" contains all these characteristics: it is enlightening and provocative, and it makes very entertaining reading.Shaw was firm Wagner partisan, and in the book he enthusiastically endorses the operas and Wagner's music in general. Particularly interested in the philosophic and social ideology behind the Ring operas, he also discusses Wagner's life, the character of music drama as opposed to grand opera, the role of the Leitmotif in unifying the cycle and delineating character, the character of Siegfried, and many other related questions.As with all of Shaw's work, even if the reader disagrees with much of it, he will still find the analysis full of stimulating ideas and valuable insights, and written throughout with rare liveliness and wit.