An excellent new translation of one of the greatest poems of the 19th century: the libretto of Wagner's cycle of works.

The scale and grandeur of Wagner's "Ring of the Nibelung" has no precedent or successor. It occupied Wagner nearly his entire life and revolutionized the nature of opera, the orchestra, the demands on the singers, and on the audience. The four operas - "The Rhine Gold," "The Valkyrie," "Siegfried," and "Twilight of the Gods" - are complete worlds that awaken extremely mythological landscapes through sound as well as direction.

Wagner wrote the entire libretto before commencing the music. Rejecting the large choruses and spectacular duets that dominate most operas, he used the greater musical forces often within the framework of only a few singers on stage. The words were of vital importance: they narrated a story and presented a viewpoint in a way that demanded absolute attention to what was being said. The libretto for the "Ring" is at the core of 19th-century culture. It is a work of power and grandeur and has had an incalculable impact on European and specifically German culture.

The exceptional new translation by John Deathridge, with notes and a fascinating introduction, is a must-have for anyone wishing to understand one of the greatest musical experiences.

Pages: 816, Dimensions: 13.6x13.6cm