Richard Wagner über Tristan und Isolde

This work serves as a foundational text in musicology, documenting Richard Wagner’s own philosophical and artistic reflections on the composition of his seminal opera, Tristan und Isolde. Originally written in the mid-19th century as a letter to his friend and colleague Hector Berlioz, the text provides a rare window into Wagner’s creative process, specifically his revolutionary approach to harmony and the psychological depth of his characters. It was intended to bridge the gap between the composer's intentions and the audience's understanding of the work's dense, chromatic musical language.

The publication by Alfred Publishing is a modern reprint designed to provide scholars and musicians with accessible, affordable access to this historic manifesto. By preserving Wagner’s original prose and theoretical observations, the edition maintains the intellectual integrity of the period while ensuring that contemporary students of opera can examine the motivations behind one of the most influential works in the Western canon. It remains a staple in academic libraries and private collections focused on German Romanticism.