Richard Wagner : Composer of Operas. By John F. Runciman.
(George Bell and Sons. 10s. fid. net.)—This is at once a life of the composer and a commentary upon his work. It contains much sound criticism and fresh apprecia- tion; particularly excellent, for instance, being the sensible protests against those who try to regard Tristan as an essay in the metaphysic of Schopenhauer. The value of the greater part of the book makes us regret all the more that it should be marred by the extremely controversial views (to use no stronger word) upon Parsifal with which it closes. Parsrfal is, we are told, to be regarded as "the last sad quaverings" of "an exhausted and beaten man," and we are informed that "to compare this decrepit stuff with the music of the Valkyrie would be preposterous." We fancy that Mr. Runciman will not find many to share this opinion.
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