School of Arts and Creative Technologies
Jingwei Hu
PhD by research
Thesis
Thesis Title & Description
The Reception of Richard Wagner in China
- Supervisor: Áine Sheil
Richard Wagner was a representative composer of European romantic music and also a significant figure in the history of German opera. In addition, he was a playwright, philosopher, critic and social activist. Therefore, Wagner not only played an important role in the history of European music but also had a certain influence on the history of European literature and philosophy. However, it was 116 years after Wagner's death that one of his operas (Der fliegende Holländer) was first staged in China in April 1999. Even now, Wagner’s operas are seldom performed in China compared with Puccini and Verdi. According to this phenomenon, I intend to analyse what causes the current situation of China's reception of Wagner's operas, from the perspectives of music, culture, and politics.
