Robert Donington – författare

Robert Donington, the noted musicologist, performer, and writer, is famous for his influential and provocative book Wagner’s “Ring” and Its Symbols, and for his indispensable reference work The Interpretation of Early Music. In this book he discusses the workings of symbolism in opera and the importance of staging opera in keeping with the composer’s intentions. Only in this way, says Donington, can we be faithful to the conscious or unconscious symbolism invested in the work by the composer and librettist.  Starting form Carlyle's premise that "it is through symbols that man, consciously or  unconsciously, lives, works and has his being," Donington interprets scenes and characters from operas by Monteverdi, Mozart, Verdi, Wagner, Bizet, Puccini, Debussy, Strauss, Stravinsky, Berg, Britten, Tippett, and other composers. Time and again Donington sheds new light on operatic situations that are problematic or have become over-familiar. His lively and wide-ranging work reveals a deep knowledge and love of opera, combined with a rare insight into hidden meanings to be found in music, words, and action.

Organized for the greatest clarity, the study consists of four main "books," respectively entitled Style, The Notes, The Expression, and The Instruments. Each book is divided into its relevant parts, thus allowing the reader immediate access to the specific subject under consideration. There are also nine invaluable appendices plus an in-depth annotated bibliography.This edition is actually the third revision of The Interpretation of Early Music; it was greatly expanded in 1974, and again for the present volume, in which Professor Donington took into account the very latest research, the explosion of interest in accurate historical performance practice, and recently formulated theories.