Richard Wagner

John Louis DiGaetani, professor emeritus of English at Hofstra University, is the author of numerous books about opera and theater.

• Table of ContentsAcknowledgements ixPreface 1Introduction 31. A Child of War: 1813–1821 92. The Child as Victim: 1821–1830 233. Student in Leipzig: 1823–1833 334. Minna and Magdeburg: 1833–1840 445. Russia, England and Paris (First Sojourn): 1837–1842 546. Kapellmeister in Dresden—Premieres of Rienzi,The Flying Dutchman and Tannhäuser: 1840–1849 647. Revolution in Dresden: 1848–1850 758. Wagner and Liszt—The Premiere of Lohengrin: 1849–1850 829. Refuge in Zurich—The Development of Big Plans: 1850–1857 9010. The Idea of the Ring: Italy: 1857–1858 9811. The Wesendoncks: 1858–1859 10712. Venice, Switzerland and Paris: 1859–1861 11313. Paris and Tannhäuser: 1860–1861 12214. Vienna, Russia and Matrimonial Crisis: 1861–1864 13115. The Rescue by King Ludwig II of Bavaria: 1864–1865 13916. Tristan in Munich: 1864–1865 14717. The Triangle in Triebschen: 1865–1870 15318. Meistersinger Premiere in Munich: 1868–1871 16219. Hans, Cosima and King Ludwig: 1870–1874 16920. The Idea of Bayreuth—The Premiere of the Ring: 1873–1876 17521. Wagner and Nietzsche: 1876–1880 18222. Parsifal: 1881–1882 19123. Death in Venice: 1883 201Conclusion: A Life of Extremes 207Bibliography 211Index 215