Wagner: His Life and Music (Book, plus 2 Audio CDs, plus Online Music Library)

Well over a century after Wagner's death, the man and his music are as controversial as ever. Praised for his profound insights into the workings of the human heart, he has also been condemned as a dangerous libertine, a proto-fascist and an arrogant bore. His vast four-part operatic "Ring" cycle has been elevated as one of the greatest achievements of western culture and dismissed as an unparalleled example of creative megalomania. This book makes no attempt to gloss over the darker sides of Wagner's character, personally or artistically, but argues that the finer aspects of his vision transcend its flaws. It tells the story of an extraordinary life, and charts Wagner's development, from unpromising beginnings, into the creator of some of the most brilliantly innovatory and seductively beautiful music ever composed. And with the words comes the music: 2 CDs of carefully chosen pieces spanning Wagner's compositional life. Furthermore, the purchaser of the book is given access to a dedicated website which offers even more music to listen to, as well as other bonus material.