Customer Reviews

Wagner's Meistersinger: Performance, History, Representation

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For a Wagnerite who had to miss Bayreuth this season, this was an entertaining set of essays, to read on the beach while the grandchildren built Valhalla in the sand. To continue the seaside metaphor, I think this book is best looked-at like one of those fascinating rock-pools - full of diverse creatures, some interesting, some mundane, some frankly grotesque, and a few surprises.

There are a "critic's dozen" essays (like a "baker's dozen" but slightly less than expected, rather than more). The book is organized into three sections - Performing, History and Representation.

The first section, including essays by Peter Schneider, Harry Kupfer, Fischer-Dieskau and Lydia Goehr, gives fascinating insights into the challenges of performing Wagner: Schneider's description of practicalities (such as reigning-in the Meisters, to avoid drowning out Walter at the end of Act 1), Kupfer's very clear understanding of the characters, and the dynamics linking them, and then back to practicalities, where Fischer-Dieskau describes the physical difficulties presented by the role of Sachs.

The History section is much more of a mixed bag.
The first essay is rather, er, academic in nature. If you find it amusing to read essays plagued by three-fold structure (here it comes, here it is, there it goes) , rampant neologisms, malicious use of nouns as verbs, strangely irrelevant illustrations and gratuitous use of the word 'paradigm', then you'll have a field day. If you can suppress the desire to strangle the author, so much the better.
The second essay in this section is the outcome of an in-depth study of how Nazi propaganda used Wagner's works; the author had to plough through several hundred extremely unsavoury publications. The result may be surprising (and, I suspect, disappointing) to some - lashings of nationalism but not a trace of anti-semitism.
The final essay in the section, presented as a modern interview with der Meister, is only partially successful. The old chap comes across as far too Politically Correct in my book.

Three of the four essays in the final section resurrect the relatively modern 'controversy' that Wagner's works are steeped in antisemitism. The general impression from this section was that many Wagner experts follow the tried and trusted rule, as followed by drug squads all over the world : always bring your own evidence, in case you can't find any at the scene of the crime.

The final essay in the book, by Eva Rieger, was a refreshing look at Meistersinger from a feminist point of view. I was particularly amused by the idea that Sachs renounced his claim on Eva as soon as he realized that she had chosen another man (much less damaging to the male ego). Right on target, Fraulein Rieger.

Let's be very clear. This isn't Dieter Borchmeyer, but it's an entertaining read. Nicholas Vazonyi is an erudite and entertaining speaker, a splendid editor and an excellent translator, as the book shows. (Any thoughts about translating some of Wagner's essays, Herr Vazonyi? It's about time someone replaced those awful Ellis things.)

Recommended Summer reading for Wagnerites. See you at Liebesverbot, in August.