Death-Devoted Heart:Sex and the Sacred in Wagner's Tristan and Isolde

Sex and the Sacred in Wagner's Tristan and Isolde

Nonfiction, Entertainment, Music, Music Styles, Classical & Opera, Opera, Religion & Spirituality, Philosophy, Aesthetics
Cover of the book Death-Devoted Heart:Sex and the Sacred in Wagner's Tristan and Isolde by Roger Scruton, Oxford University Press, USA
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Roger Scruton ISBN: 9780199986989
Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA Publication: November 20, 2003
Imprint: Oxford University Press Language: English
Author: Roger Scruton
ISBN: 9780199986989
Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
Publication: November 20, 2003
Imprint: Oxford University Press
Language: English

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 another's arms. While critics have lauded Wagner's Tristan and Isolde for the originality and subtlety of the music, they have denounced the drama as a "mere trifle"--a rendering of Wagner's 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 composer's 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 Wagner's 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 Wagner's masterpiece. Roger Scruton has written an original and provocative account of Wagner's music drama, which blends philosophy, criticism, and musicology in order to show the work's importance in the twenty-first century.

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

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 another's arms. While critics have lauded Wagner's Tristan and Isolde for the originality and subtlety of the music, they have denounced the drama as a "mere trifle"--a rendering of Wagner's 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 composer's 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 Wagner's 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 Wagner's masterpiece. Roger Scruton has written an original and provocative account of Wagner's music drama, which blends philosophy, criticism, and musicology in order to show the work's importance in the twenty-first century.

More books from Oxford University Press, USA

Cover of the book Angst: Origins of Anxiety and Depression by Roger Scruton
Cover of the book The Bible Now by Roger Scruton
Cover of the book The Hopkins Touch: Harry Hopkins and the Forging of the Alliance to Defeat Hitler by Roger Scruton
Cover of the book Creating the Twentieth Century : Technical Innovations of 1867-1914 and Their Lasting Impact by Roger Scruton
Cover of the book Forgery and Counterforgery: The Use of Literary Deceit in Early Christian Polemics by Roger Scruton
Cover of the book The Lost Gospel of Judas Iscariot : A New Look at Betrayer and Betrayed by Roger Scruton
Cover of the book Abortion in America : The Origins and Evolution of National Policy by Roger Scruton
Cover of the book The Works of Alain Locke by Roger Scruton
Cover of the book Boardwalk of Dreams:Atlantic City and the Fate of Urban America by Roger Scruton
Cover of the book The Great War And Modern Memory by Roger Scruton
Cover of the book Earth-honoring Faith:Religious Ethics in a New Key by Roger Scruton
Cover of the book Visions of Jazz : The First Century by Roger Scruton
Cover of the book Infotopia : How Many Minds Produce Knowledge by Roger Scruton
Cover of the book Crossroads of Freedom : Antietam by Roger Scruton
Cover of the book Taking Our Country Back: The Crafting of Networked Politics from Howard Dean to Barack Obama by Roger Scruton
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy