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1910-11 The Rhinegold and the Valkyrie, Siegfried and the Twilight of the Gods
About the Item
A beautifully and colourfully illustrated copy of Richard Wagner's epic four epic opera dramas, illustrated throughout by Arthur Rackham with tipped-in colour plates, scarce to see in their original dust wrappers.
The first editions, first impression.
Both volumes are in their scarce original unclipped dust wrappers.
Complete in two volumes.
'The Rhinegold and the Valkyrie' illustrated with a tipped-in colour frontispiece, and thirty-three tipped-in colour plates.
'Siegfried and the Twilight of the Gods' illustrated with a tipped-in colour frontispiece, and twenty-nine tipped-in colour plates.
'Arthur Rackham Exhibition' advertising slip loosely inserted.
Collated, complete.
These two volumes contain Richard Wagner's four epic music dramas, the series being titled 'Der Ring des Nibelungen', or 'The Ring of the Nibelung', or simply the 'Ring Cycle'. These four are 'Das Rheingold'/'The Rhinegold', 'Die Walkure'/'The Valkyrie', 'Siegfried', and 'Gotterdammerung'/'Twilight of the Gods'. All four dramas are in these two volumes.
The four dramas are loosely based on characters from Norse mythology and the Nibelungenlied.
The plot of the four dramas revolves around a magical ring, that grants the wearer the power to rule the world. It is said that the ring was forged by the Nibelung dwarf Alberich from gold that he stole from the River Rhine's maidens.
Wagner wrote the libretto and music over about twenty-six years, from 1848 to 1874. He intended them to be performed in a series, and the first performance of the cycle opened at the first Bayreuth Festival in 1876. Many believe that the composition and story of this cycle raised the standards of the art form. It is also considered that to put on the cycle is one of the biggest challenges any opera company can undertake.
Richard Wagner is well remembered today for his operas, which are known for their complex textures, rich harmonies, and for the fact that he wrote both the libretto and music. His 1857-59 work 'Tristan und Isolde' has been considered to lay the groundwork for classical music in the twentieth century, being the start of modern music.
Illustrated by Arthur Rackham. Rackham was a book illustrator who illustrated editions of 'The Ingoldsby Legends', 'The Wind in the Willows', 'Grimm's Fairy Tales', and 'Gulliver's Travels', as well as contributing frequently to periodicals. He is considered to be one of the leaders of the 'Golden Age' of book illustrations.
Translated from German to English by Margaret Armour, a Scottish translator, poet, and novelist. She also translated worked by Gustav Legerlotz and Heinrich Heine.
In the original publisher's cloth binding, in the original unclipped dust wrappers. Externally, smart. Light bumping to the head and tail of the spines and to the extremities. A few light marks to the boards and spines. Spines are a little faded. Hinges of 'Rhinegold' are starting but firm. Front hinge of 'Siegfried' is strained. Spots to the endpapers. Dust wrappers are a little edge worn, heavier to the head and tail of the spines, with chips. A few light marks to the wraps, a small tide mark to the spine of 'Rhinegold', and a small tide mark to the spine and extremity of the front wrap of 'Siegfried'. Spines are age-toned. Very small chip to the front wrap. Internally, firmly bound. Pages are bright with some spotting.
Overall: Very Good
- Creator:Wagner (Author)
- Dimensions:Height: 10 in (25.4 cm)Width: 5 in (12.7 cm)Depth: 7.5 in (19.05 cm)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:1910-1919
- Date of Manufacture:1910-1911
- Condition:
- Seller Location:Bath, GB
- Reference Number:Seller: 895P41stDibs: LU8925239149582
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