The Perfect Wagnerite
George Bernard Shaw
Read by Bob Neufeld
The Perfect Wagnerite: A Commentary on the Niblung's Ring (originally published London, 1898) is a philosophical commentary on Richard Wagner's Der Ring des Nibelungen, by the Irish writer George Bernard Shaw. Shaw offered it to those enthusiastic admirers of Wagner who "were unable to follow his ideas, and do not in the least understand the dilemma of Wotan." He interprets the Ring in Marxian terms as an allegory of the collapse of capitalism from its internal contradictions. Musicologically, his interpretation is noteworthy for its perception of the change in aesthetic direction beginning with the final scene of Siegfried, in which he claimed that the cycle turns from Musikdrama back towards opera. (Introduction by Wikipedia) (4 hr 46 min)
Chapters
Prefaces/Preliminary Encouragements | 24:24 | Read by Bob Neufeld |
The Ring of the Niblungs/The Rhine Gold | 41:35 | Read by Bob Neufeld |
Wagner as Revolutionist | 14:34 | Read by Bob Neufeld |
The Valkyries | 21:42 | Read by Bob Neufeld |
Siegfried | 27:06 | Read by Bob Neufeld |
Back To Opera Again - Siegfried Concluded | 34:55 | Read by Bob Neufeld |
Night Falls On The Gods | 27:28 | Read by Bob Neufeld |
Forgotten Ere Finished/Why He Changed His Mind | 24:11 | Read by Bob Neufeld |
Wagner's Own Explanation/The Pessimist As Amorist | 17:17 | Read by Bob Neufeld |
The Music of The Ring | 39:36 | Read by Bob Neufeld |
Bayreuth/Wagnerian Singers | 13:40 | Read by Bob Neufeld |
Reviews
Thanks
GeoffreyEdwards
Great quality recording. No need to buy or look elsewhere. This is the version you want. Thanks Bob.
A pleasent accident
A LibriVox Listener
The reader is perfect for this book. I misread the title as "The Perfect Wagonright" I missed "Commentary" altogether. I had never read anything by the author and was curious. Imagine my surprise. But, very pleasantly so. I know nothing of Wagner or Opera for that matter. The reading and writing were so excellent I was soon hooked! Now I want to see it!
Scrumptious
TINAYE MASUKA
Bob Nuefeld...What a reader. Another installment by George Bernard Shaw. He remains one of the most talented thinkers, writers, physicians ever
Interesting Read
Donald Gilmore
I don't think I'll ever hear the Ring Cycle the same way again.