Wagner's Ring

by M. Owen Lee

Commentary on and a concise, lucid interpretation of the opera world's most complex masterwork, expanded from the author's popular intermission talks during Met Opera broadcasts. "Anyone, whether knowledgeable or not, will profit by reading it..." - Opera Quarterly

Genres: Nonfiction, Music

120 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1990

Reviews

[Terje Fokstuen · Rating 5 out of 5]

A brief explanation of the themes and story of Wagner's Ring des Nibelungen. These are the written notes on which M. Owen Lee did his radio talks on Wagner's ring during the Met broadcast. Brief, lucid, and intelligent. Highly recommended.

[Victor Gallant · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read, like the work itself!

[Edward Brain · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book on The Ring. Easy to read and straightforward. A must read for anyone who wants to understand The Ring.

[Sandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my first time to read about Wagner's opera, Der Ring des Nibelungen and this beautiful, small book written by a Catholic priest appealed to my Jungian perspective of life. I'm in the process of watching the 14 hour opera on t.v. and am being blown away by its profound beauty. I don't even like opera and I love this one! Here is a quote from Lee:
"Wagner once said something very startling about his Ring. He said that it teaches us that "we must learn to die." We must "will what is necessary and bring it to pass." The great deaths in myths are symbols of inner transformations in man, who makes the myths.. . accept the loss of power and embrace death. The Ring is about a god's voluntary death, and the transformation that results."
The transformation is the evolution of each person's soul into a newer, deeper, more profound way of living - dying to power and coming alive to love.
Beautifully written and easily understood by a non-opera person!