Theology of Wagner's Ring Cycle II: Theological and Ethical Issues

(Vol 1.) Wagners Ring is one of the greatest of all artworks of Western civilization but what is it all about? The power and mystery of Wagners creation was such that he himself felt he stood before his work as though before some puzzle. A clue to the Rings greatness lies in its multiple avenues of self-disclosure and the corresponding plethora of interpretations that over the years has granted ample scope for directors and will no doubt do so well into the distant future. One possible interpretation which Richard Bell argues should be taken seriously is the Ring as Christian theology. In this first of two volumes Bell considers among other things how the composers Christian interests may be detected in the forging of his Ring looking at how he appropriated his sources (whether they be myths and sagas writers poets or philosophers) and considering works composed around the same time especially his Jesus of Nazareth. -- back cover.