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Mein Leben mit Wagner
Over a distinguished career conducting some of the world's finest orchestras, Christian Thielemann has earned a reputation as the leading modern interpreter of Richard Wagner.
My Life with Wagner chronicles his ardent personal and professional engagement with the great composer, whose work has shaped his thinking and feeling from early childhood. Thielemann retraces his journey around the world with Wagner—from Berlin to Bayreuth via Venice, Hamburg, and Chicago—and combines his analysis with revealing insights drawn from his many years of experience as a Wagner conductor.
Thielemann discusses each of Wagner's operas in turn, and his appraisal is illuminated by a deep affinity for the music, an intimate knowledge of the scores, and the inside perspective of a world-class practitioner. And yet for all the adulation Wagner's art inspires, Thielemann does not shy away from unpalatable truths about the man himself, explaining why today Wagner is venerated and reviled in equal measure.My Life with Wagner is a richly rewarding read for admirers of a composer who continues to fascinate long after his death.
My Life with Wagner chronicles his ardent personal and professional engagement with the great composer, whose work has shaped his thinking and feeling from early childhood. Thielemann retraces his journey around the world with Wagner—from Berlin to Bayreuth via Venice, Hamburg, and Chicago—and combines his analysis with revealing insights drawn from his many years of experience as a Wagner conductor.
Thielemann discusses each of Wagner's operas in turn, and his appraisal is illuminated by a deep affinity for the music, an intimate knowledge of the scores, and the inside perspective of a world-class practitioner. And yet for all the adulation Wagner's art inspires, Thielemann does not shy away from unpalatable truths about the man himself, explaining why today Wagner is venerated and reviled in equal measure.My Life with Wagner is a richly rewarding read for admirers of a composer who continues to fascinate long after his death.
Hardcover
First published September 17, 2012
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
January 13, 2019
I wasn’t supposed to read this book. The author appears to have written this for musicians who understand his language, and are at least moderately familiar with Wagner. I fall in neither category. I needed an introduction, not an analysis. This is not to say that I didn’t find this interesting, but most of it flew over my head.
February 25, 2016
My Life with Wagner is primarily a memoir of Christian Thielemann, the renowned conductor, but is also a biography of the composer Richard Wagner.
The first part is largely about Thielemann and Wagner in broad musical terms. It is here we learn about what contributions Wagner made as well as how his music helped shape Thielemann's life, particularly his professional life. It is also where he engages with Wagner's more problematic areas, such as anti-Semitism.
The latter portion of the book is devoted to Wagner's works and is a wonderful resource for the beginner and the seasoned Wagnerian alike. Each is discussed with respect to origin, cast and orchestration, plot, music and recordings. These overviews are not simply an outline but is illuminated by Thielemann's experiences and knowledge. The recordings sections are particularly helpful because they offer suggestions on which recordings best display Wagner at his best.
I am not a beginner nor an expert in Wagner's music but am far closer to beginner of the two. As such, this book was a wealth of both factual information as well as advice on appreciating not just Wagner but any type of music. I listened to some selections when I was reading and found that I truly enjoyed it more than I had previously.
While this will certainly be a wonderful library addition for anyone interested in Wagner, I would also highly recommend it to someone just approaching Wagner. The passion Thielemann feels for the music is contagious and helps to make this a fun read in addition to being a great resource.
Reviewed from a copy made available through Goodreads First Reads.
The first part is largely about Thielemann and Wagner in broad musical terms. It is here we learn about what contributions Wagner made as well as how his music helped shape Thielemann's life, particularly his professional life. It is also where he engages with Wagner's more problematic areas, such as anti-Semitism.
The latter portion of the book is devoted to Wagner's works and is a wonderful resource for the beginner and the seasoned Wagnerian alike. Each is discussed with respect to origin, cast and orchestration, plot, music and recordings. These overviews are not simply an outline but is illuminated by Thielemann's experiences and knowledge. The recordings sections are particularly helpful because they offer suggestions on which recordings best display Wagner at his best.
I am not a beginner nor an expert in Wagner's music but am far closer to beginner of the two. As such, this book was a wealth of both factual information as well as advice on appreciating not just Wagner but any type of music. I listened to some selections when I was reading and found that I truly enjoyed it more than I had previously.
While this will certainly be a wonderful library addition for anyone interested in Wagner, I would also highly recommend it to someone just approaching Wagner. The passion Thielemann feels for the music is contagious and helps to make this a fun read in addition to being a great resource.
Reviewed from a copy made available through Goodreads First Reads.
July 14, 2019
Comencé este libro saliendo de Bayreuth en Alemania, después de visitar la casa de Wagner y el teatro que el mismo compositor mandó construir para la representación de sus óperas.
Después de leer y de entender que el libro no busca narrar obviedades (como la genialidad de Wagner), me di cuenta que a Wagner no hay que tenerle miedo. Toca conocer sus óperas para entender lo fundamental que fue su existencia para la historia de la música universal, pues fue creador de enormes obras (por su duración y complejidad) que dieron lugar a un desarrollo intelectual y musical sin precedentes en el siglo XX.
Desde Las Hadas hasta el Anillo de los Nibelungos, pasando por Parsifal y el Holandés Errante, Wagner dejó de regalo a la humanidad 13 óperas que salieron de su imaginario musical y literario (pues él escribió además los libretos) y que hoy nos pertenecen a todos.
Después de leer y de entender que el libro no busca narrar obviedades (como la genialidad de Wagner), me di cuenta que a Wagner no hay que tenerle miedo. Toca conocer sus óperas para entender lo fundamental que fue su existencia para la historia de la música universal, pues fue creador de enormes obras (por su duración y complejidad) que dieron lugar a un desarrollo intelectual y musical sin precedentes en el siglo XX.
Desde Las Hadas hasta el Anillo de los Nibelungos, pasando por Parsifal y el Holandés Errante, Wagner dejó de regalo a la humanidad 13 óperas que salieron de su imaginario musical y literario (pues él escribió además los libretos) y que hoy nos pertenecen a todos.
May 31, 2020
Richard Wagner is a legend amongst classical composers, there's no point in even arguing about that. Changing the landscape of opera and musical understanding for generations to come, there are still people dedicating their lives to his legacy – one of them the inarguably outstanding composer Christian Thielemann.
My Life with Wagner is a love story. Today, we know Thielemann as the leading contemporary interpreter of Wagner's work and in this book he unravels his journey to becoming the composer he is today. His enthusiasm is engaging and entertaining as he first talks about his own journey and later goes on introducing the reader to Wagner's cosmos and his operas in detail.
It's a book for people that like operas, but feel intimidated by Wagner. Thielemann casually uses terms part of the opera / classical music vocabulary, which might lead to confusion if you're not familiar with the genre whatsoever. Then again, if your knowledge on Wagner is already well-established, the third big chapter about Wagner's operas, retelling their plots and stories of origins, might feel redundant.
I would definitely consider myself a Wagner enthusiast, which is why I liked this read particularly for its little anecdotes, such as Thielemann recounting what it was like to work with Wolfgang Wagner or what working in Bayreuth is like. An easy, quick and enjoyable read which I don't regret, yet didn't gather an enormous amount from, either.
My Life with Wagner is a love story. Today, we know Thielemann as the leading contemporary interpreter of Wagner's work and in this book he unravels his journey to becoming the composer he is today. His enthusiasm is engaging and entertaining as he first talks about his own journey and later goes on introducing the reader to Wagner's cosmos and his operas in detail.
It's a book for people that like operas, but feel intimidated by Wagner. Thielemann casually uses terms part of the opera / classical music vocabulary, which might lead to confusion if you're not familiar with the genre whatsoever. Then again, if your knowledge on Wagner is already well-established, the third big chapter about Wagner's operas, retelling their plots and stories of origins, might feel redundant.
I would definitely consider myself a Wagner enthusiast, which is why I liked this read particularly for its little anecdotes, such as Thielemann recounting what it was like to work with Wolfgang Wagner or what working in Bayreuth is like. An easy, quick and enjoyable read which I don't regret, yet didn't gather an enormous amount from, either.
November 3, 2023
Read a few Wagner biographies but this book stands out. Thielemann lives up to the title and talks in captivating detail about his life with Wagner and his music. Really enjoyed his no nonsense and straightforward language.
November 10, 2019
A quite personal book about Wagner and his music. Easy to read, interesting perspectives from a well known Wagner conductor.
April 24, 2024
Wenn wir Wagner wollen, gibt uns Wagner!
nf-to-read
July 24, 2024rec philipp freise
February 1, 2022
Some amazing insights into the works of Wagner from one of the leaders in his field.
Their were some weird translation errors, and at times the opinions of the writer felt a little pretentious and lofty. Not sure if the layman would benefit from this, but if you’re a Wagner nut, interested in conducting or interested in Theilemann, who is fascinating in his own right, it’s worth a read.
Their were some weird translation errors, and at times the opinions of the writer felt a little pretentious and lofty. Not sure if the layman would benefit from this, but if you’re a Wagner nut, interested in conducting or interested in Theilemann, who is fascinating in his own right, it’s worth a read.
October 21, 2016
One of our generation's foremost interpreters of Wagner's music share his experiences leading these operas. A lot of inside information about the unique properties of the Festival Theater in Bayreuth. Highly recommended.
April 26, 2016
For anyone who is even vaguely a fan of Wagner's operas. Wonderful insights from the inside of the Green Hill and one of today's most prominent Wagner conductors.
April 21, 2021
Thielemann 😍😍
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews