First published in 2006, Patrick Carnegy's "Wagner And The Art Of The Theatre" has finally been re-released as a far more affordable paperback. Described by Simon Williams of The Wagner Journal at the time as, "...the most thorough and comprehensive exegesis available in English on Wagner's work as a stage director.' it remains, in our opinion, an excellent book. Despite owning a rather "dog eared" copy of the hardback we have just bought a copy of the paperback and can say it has lost none of its quality. It is without doubt a book that we think you should own, especially as it sits so well alongside "Bayreuth: A History of the Wagner Festival" by Fredrick Spotts. Should you be unsure if it is for you there is a more than generous sample below.
By the way on October 28 the author is giving a talk called 'Wagner's Shakespeare' at Trinity Hall, Cambridge, (tickets from events@trinhall.cam.ac.uk.) And in December he will be speaking at the 'Wagner and Us' symposium (5 – 8 December) organized by the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music in association with Melbourne Opera's new Ring.
Reviews:
'A consummate work of scholarship ... the most thorough and comprehensive exegesis available in English on Wagner's work as a stage director.' – Simon Williams, The Wagner Journal
'This book is truly epic in its scope, and it will certainly become one of the standard reference works in English, not only on Wagner but on twentieth-century stagecraft.' Patrick O'Connor, Literary Review
'It's rare that I fall in love with a book early in its Introduction, but Patrick Carnegy's Wagner and the Art of the Theatre is such a work . . . It is essential reading . . . one of the best performing art books in recent memory.' – William Fregosi, Wagner Notes
'A terrific read ... a real page-turner, actually.' – A.C. Grayling, BBC Radio 3