On Wagner and Mahler

Versuch über Wagner; Mahler - Eine musikalische Physiognomik

This book compiles two important works on the aesthetics of music by Adorno, one of the world's most influential philosophers, sociologists, and musicologists of the mid-20th century: Wagner and Mahler: An Aspect of Music. The former is Adorno's first work on the aesthetics of music, while the latter belongs to his later years. As a highly controversial and illuminating work of aesthetic criticism, Wagner is essential reading for anyone interested in appreciating and understanding Wagner's work. Its incisive prose transcends the boundaries between music and society, humanity, and culture. In Adorno's writing, the greatest composer of the 19th century is neither a saint nor a genius, but rather an artistic "case": a revolutionary, a fugitive, a bourgeois artist steeped in decadent habits, "bowed before fate." Through this work, Adorno both exposes and redeems Wagner. Through Wagner, he directly addresses the ills of 19th-century German society while attempting to identify within it the seeds of the modern cultural industry. In Mahler, Adorno offered the highest praise for Mahler, his most admired musical master. Using his keen ear, he meticulously broke down the complex and vast Mahler symphonies, recounting them piece by piece for his readers. It was this booklet that rekindled interest in Mahler, then relatively unknown in the composing world, fifty years after his death, ultimately leading to his recognition as a world-class master.
With his encyclopedic talent, keen insight into human nature, and profound musical appreciation, Adorno paints a portrait of German Romantic music. I hope readers will find themselves blasting Wagner and Mahler as they explore this book, letting Adorno's beautiful words guide their thoughts and journey into the wondrous world of music.

2022-07-01

上海人民出版社

329

9787208175976