MHST 368 The Music Dramas of Wagner
This course surveys Wagner’s music dramas with special emphasis on subject matter, libretto construction, musical form, and stagecraft. We will talk about the ways in which Wagner tried to uproot the operatic conventions of his day, his “failures,” and his most famous successes. Students will read selections from Wagner’s own writings and learn about his theories of the Gesamtkunstwerk (total art work) and the “Artwork of the Future.” There will be frequent quizzes, an oral presentation, and a written project.