Edition no.: BVK 2270 ISBN: 9783761822708 Volume / Series: Documenta musicologica II/45 / Bärenreiter Facsimile Editor: Konrad, Ulrich Language(s) of work: English, German Product format: Facsimile Binding: Half-leather binding Pages / Format: 405 S. - 41,7 x 30,0 cm “This Tristan will be something formidable! This last act!” “I fear the opera will be banned – if the whole work is not parodied through bad performance: only mediocre performances can save me! Thoroughly good ones will surely drive people crazy.” Richard Wagner While working on the score to “Tristan und Isolde”, Richard Wagner expressed his excitement and elation about his new musical drama. Indeed, the radical originality of the work proved to be both unique and forward-looking: Over 150 years ago it signified the “dawn” of the modern era and to this day it has not lost any of its fascination. Throughout his life, Richard Wagner was proud of his even handwriting. He constantly strove to produce manuscripts of a high calligraphic standard. The Tristan manuscript is also clearly written. More so than in his other scores however, traces of his working process are evident. It is precisely this aspect of the autograph that makes it fascinating. Reading it, one is witness to Wagner’s highlyconcentrated, powerful and relentless writing. This manuscript is in every possible way unparalleled reflecting individuality and uniqueness. In time for the 200th anniversary of Wagner’s birth in 2013, this great work will be published as a BÄRENREITER FACSIMILE in cooperation with the National Archive of the Richard-Wagner-Stiftung Bayreuth. In addition to the complete score, the edition includes the autograph concert ending of the Vorspiel as well as three pages that Wagner rejected while composing and later used for sketches. Ulrich Konrad, the renowned musicologist describes the genesis and performance history of the work in his comprehensive commentary. He also details the physical appearance and condition of the autograph as well as giving an insight into the musical language of Wagner.
SKU: BR.BV-415
Wagner at the confines of Asia
ISBN 9783765104152. 5.5 x 8.5 inches. German.
The year 1863 was very turbulent for Richard Wagner. Concert tours took him halfway across Europe and all the way to Moscow: ... one now heard my Valkyries at the confines of Asia. Yet at the end of the year, the overall balance was disappointing. Tristan und Isolde was not given its world premiere in Vienna, and work on Die Meistersinger had hardly advanced. Moreover, Wagner was in dire financial straits since the income from his artistically successful concerts only covered a fraction of the costs of his lavish lifestyle (he had moved into a luxurious residence in Penzing near Vienna in May). The meticulously annotated volume is illustrated with facsimiles and little known photos. Further enhancing the value of Volume 15 are a number of letters written by Wagner to his patroness Editha von Rahden in St. Petersburg and Moscow, which were hitherto practically unavailable and are published here for the first time.Wagner at the confines of Asia.
