Description
Wagner's Ring is an extraordinary masterpiece. However, due to the intricate complexity of the work, it can be challenging to engage thoughtfully with its text and music. Deryck Cooke, renowned for his book The Language of Music and for completing Mahler's Tenth Symphony, demonstrates his exceptional insight in this examination of the reasons behind the structure of The Ring. This analysis represents only a segment of the extensive volume he had envisioned; his premature passing hindered him from providing a comprehensive musical analysis. Nevertheless, it addresses the first two operas of the cycle, Rheingold and The Valkyrie, and offers a renewed understanding and appreciation for all admirers of Wagner's compositions.
