Wagner Nights

by Ernest Newman

Ernest Newman's study of the major Wagner operas (from Der fliegende Holländer onwards) was originally published in 1949 and rapidly achieved the status of a classic opera text, which it retains to this day. There are plenty of other, differing treatments of the stories of the operas, but none as detailed or as dramatically aware as Newman's magisterial volume. Of course, the reprint does not contain information about the composer and his works that would later come to light, nor does it traffic in current modes of thought about the operas (in some cases, thankfully). What Newman does is begin with a history of the myth or the tales on which each opera is based, widening that out to a discussion of Wagner's interest in the story, his involvement with its genesis, and an account of how the work in question was created and first produced. Since in some cases this gestation took years, Newman's clear explication does much to lift the mists surrounding even the simplest of Wagner's operas. He then discusses each opera in detail. The plethora of musical examples and Newman's understanding of Wagner's use of the leitmotif ensure that his readings are responsive both to the histrionic and musical aspects of the stories. Reading the details of the often complex backgrounds of the operas, as well as what goes on in the opera itself (the discussion of Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg alone runs to more than 110 pages of text), should immeasurably enrich the listener's opera-going experience, even in this age of the surtitle. And an appreciation of the range and cogency of Wagner's musical and dramatic genius, which this book offers, will serve to balance the unflattering portrait of Wagner the human being that dominates today's thinking about the Master. --Patrick J. Smith

Genres: Music, Nonfiction, Reference

787 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1949

About the author

Noted music critic and musicologist, Newman made his name writing for The Sunday Times, and is still regarded as one of the 20th century's most eminent critics.

Reviews

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

A classic directed at those who can read music and are already enchanted by Wagner's work. Anyone fitting this description will find Newman's book both useful and absorbing.

Addendum: I have now been cover-to-cover three times in twenty years and, while my earlier opinions remain unchanged, I'd be remiss not to mention the cloying, medievalist syntax Newman employs. What was oddly charming the first time around can be off-putting after long exposure. It seems quite likely that the author would have been an ardent member of the Society for Creative Anachronism had he lived long enough!

[Mac · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you want to understand Wagner's operas, this is the perfect book for you. Ernest Newman writes so well about both the musical and literary aspects of Wagner's work that you will come away with much greater insight. Each opera receives its own chapter, in which Newman relates first how Wagner came to choose the subject, then how he developed it through various sketches and drafts. Finally, he goes through the opera in great detail, with dozens of musical excerpts printed in the text. (To get the most of the book, you will need to be able to "hear" these from reading them, or play them on a piano.) Along the way, Newman shows how the various leitmotifs interact and evolve, revealing the essence of Wagner's composing genius.

The book can be read piecemeal, as each chapter stands alone. There is not a through line that you will miss by skipping around to whichever opera interests you most at a particular time. I first started reading this when I began seriously listening to Wagner's music in graduate school. Based on my bookmark (a dated postcard), I had last picked up the book in around 2005. I returned to it recently to read about Wagner's last opera, "Parsifal," which I had finally listened to this summer. I later went back to finish the chapter on "Tristan und Isolde," where my bookmark had kept my place, mid-chapter, for some 14 years. I believe I had read all the other chapters previously, so now I am counting that I have read the whole book.

Ernest Newman is one of the best writers about music that I have ever encountered. If you have any interest in Wagner, you will thoroughly enjoy this book.

[Michael Xu · Rating 5 out of 5]

An absolute must for anyone remotely interested in Wagner's music, even better if you have a bit of musical literacy. Newman is able to elegantly explicate each opera, including its musical themes and sometimes the philosophical implications. It was a pleasure to read this while watching the operas simultaneously. I love Wagner, and thank you Ernest Newman for writing this enlightening accompaniment.

Favorite Operas:
Die Meistersinger von Nurnberg
Götterdämmerung
Tristan und Isolde

[Lillian Crawford · Rating 4 out of 5]

An incredible feat of scholarship which paints stunning portraits of the key Wagner operas. I’ve been keeping it as my companion while watching the 2016 recordings of Castorf’s Ring and I have to say I’ve enjoyed reading this book more than some of the productions. Would recommend seeking it out if you want to understand the complexity of the music.

[Volsung]

Extremely insightful and well-written -- a great pleasure to read.

[Aaron · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you want to understand the works of Wagner, this is the book for you. Indispensable and one of the greatest books on music ever written.