Wagner on the Brain
For a while now I’ve been looking to get into some music of the “Classical” nature. Over the passed year a series of mystery movies have been aired on PBS: The Inspector Lewis Mysteries. It was Music to Die For (in series two of the show) which turned my attention to Wagner.
A-Hunting We We Go
Although it has been a couple months since I saw the episode of Inspector Lewis where Wagner is a motif, last night, the desire to know more struck me. So off to Google I trot, then over to Wikipedia and read Richard Wagner’s page.
Then I realized: isn’t it wonderful that I could do this? In the late hour last night I had the desire to delve into the world of Wagner, I suddenly found myself walking down the epic path. The internet is such an amazing thing. It allowed me to hunt down the knowledge I was craving. Well, I’m still craving. However…
Seek and Ye Shall Find
Der Ring des Nibelungen is a series of four operas that tell one grand tale–the story of the ring of Alberich. The plot: a ring of power is created and fought over for generations. Sound familiar? I thought so too. I continued reading and found out that Tolkien wanted no association to be made between his epic Lord of the Rings and Wagner.
It is true, they drew from the same myths to create both their tetralogies, but even I believe it a case of coincidence that both stories feature a ring of supreme power. I’ve thoroughly read the Lord of the Rings twice, and while perusing synopses and librettos of Der Ring des Nibelungen that seems to be where the similarities end.
The Beginning of an Obsession
This is only the beginning, I fear. These opera aren’t anything to sneeze at. Like I said, it’s a series of four, and the final opera (Götterdämmerung–The Twilight of the Gods) is reported to take up to six hours to perform. The recording I’ve attained is nearly fifteen hours from the start to finish. Plus I have to read the libretto translation just so I know what’s going on.
So far, the music is utterly addictive. I haven’t been able to stop listening. Last night I read a little of the translation while listening … it was amazing. Quite a storyteller Wagner was. I could see some of the myths he drew upon, and was very pleased with the pictures my imagination came up with.
I think I’m going to have to read the translation away from the recording at some point as well. I feel like this magical series of opera have shown up right on time. This might not be the last time you get to hear about them. I suggest you go give it a listen. Even if you don’t get into it as much as I have, it’s still worth your time. The highlights will probably suffice for you though, haha!
Tags: Genre: Classics, Genre: Fanstasy, Music, Wagner
Joeysan's Head | Joey | 
18 December 2009 9:49 AM
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