Leslie Head, the conductor of this recording, was instrumental in the renaissance of Siegfried Wagner's operas, being the first to stage a complete work after 23 years of silence.
Compositional Technique
The music of Siegfried Wagner's 'Der Friedensengel' shows more parallels to the works of his grandfather Franz Liszt and Bohemian/Czech operas than to his father Richard Wagner.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Siegfried Wagner's 'Der Friedensengel' is described as a universal demand for personal unfolding and self-realization, advocating for utopian freedom in individual religion and lifestyle.
Composition History
Siegfried Wagner's opera, 'Der Friedensengel' (The Angel of Peace), was written in 1914 but was taken off the program in Karlsruhe in 1926 after only three performances.
Notable Performances
The 1975 London performance of 'Der Friedensengel' was its first complete staging, as an 'offensive scene' had been cut from its 1926 world premiere in Karlsruhe.
Composer Biography
Siegfried Wagner, son of Richard Wagner and grandson of Franz Liszt, was often perceived as a 'fairy tale composer' but also as a 'psychological poet of text and music'.
Interpretation
Conductor Leslie Head's interpretation of 'Der Friedensengel' is noted for being more exhilarated than Karl Böhm's, with clearer motifs and a balanced orchestral pace.
