Wagner on the Analysts’ Couch: Arnold Whittall explores a new symposium and various associated articles in a survey of recent Wagneriana

Keeping up with writing about Wagner has long been a time-consuming as well as intellectually challenging activity. Just when even the most dedicated enthusiasts might be hoping for a degree of respite – for time to remember that there are other composers, other cultural contexts worth their occasional attention – another wave hits the shore. As always, the larger waves – the monographs and full-length biographical studies – are complemented by articles in some of the many learned journals and scholarly organs which not even senior academics with time on their hands always get round to treating with the seriousness that they appear to solicit.