This book presents composer Richard Wagner's formative ideas in a systematic and coherent manner and examines their development and evolution as reflected in his prose, poetry , letters, and music-dramas. In addition to incorporating numerous letters previously unavailable, the second edition has been thoroughly reorganized. As Wagner's political and religious ideas conditioned the works and music he wrote, considerable attention is now placed on the development and evolution of his major thoughts, showing how they evolved and became incorporated into his music.

"It is a fascinating and comprehensive treatment of a very wide range of Wagner's ideas, and its approach will capture the serious Wagner scholar as much as it will capture the passionate opera-lover." - Wagner Society Of Nz Newsletter

"In aiming to define Richard Wagner's fundamental convictions and intellectual positions, Alan David Aberbach has set himself a Herculean task. Taking the measure of all this literature, one recognizes how unmanageable a mass of material Aberbach has successfully commanded. . . . Aberbach does just what he had intended- to 'let Wagner speak for himself'- but his skill at paraphrasing and interweaving his sources gives added coherence and consistency to the thoughts the composer first set forth. The resulting study throws a bright light on its subject and thus stands ready to serve the needs of those who have wanted to know all about Wagner's ideas but feared they had no time to find out." - Opera Quarterly

"In aiming to define Richard Wagner's fundamental convictions and intellectual positions, Alan David Aberbach has set himself a Herculean task. Taking the measure of all this literature, one recognizes how unmanageable a mass of material Aberbach has successfully commanded. . . . Aberbach does just what he had intended- to 'let Wagner speak for himself'- but his skill at paraphrasing and interweaving his sources gives added coherence and consistency to the thoughts the composer first set forth. The resulting study throws a bright light on its subject and thus stands ready to serve the needs of those who have wanted to know all about Wagner's ideas but feared they had no time to find out." - Opera Quarterly

"It is a fascinating and comprehensive treatment of a very wide range of Wagner's ideas, and its approach will capture the serious Wagner scholar as much as it will capture the passionate opera-lover." - Wagner Society Of Nz Newsletter