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Richard Wagner

Richard Wagner: The Visionary of Music Drama

Introduction to Richard Wagner

Wilhelm Richard Wagner (1813–1883) was a German composer, conductor, and theatre director, best known for his revolutionary approach to opera, which he termed "music drama." Unlike most composers, Wagner wrote both the libretto and music for his works, creating a total work of art (Gesamtkunstwerk) that seamlessly combined poetry, music, drama, and visual spectacle. His use of leitmotifs—musical themes associated with characters, emotions, or ideas—transformed the storytelling power of music and influenced generations of composers.

Wagner’s Most Celebrated Works

The Ring Cycle: A Monument of Operatic Art

Wagner’s epic Der Ring des Nibelungen (The Ring of the Nibelung) is a four-opera cycle inspired by Norse mythology, considered one of the greatest achievements in classical music:

  • Das Rheingold (1869) – The foundation of the saga, introducing the mythical world of gods and mortals.
  • Die Walküre (1870) – Features the legendary "Ride of the Valkyries," one of the most famous orchestral works ever written.
  • Siegfried (1876) – The heroic journey of a fearless warrior, marked by powerful themes.
  • Götterdämmerung (1876) – The dramatic conclusion of the cycle, depicting the downfall of the gods.

Other Operatic Masterpieces

Wagner’s operas pushed musical boundaries, both dramatically and harmonically:

  • Tristan und Isolde (1865) – A revolutionary work that introduced extreme chromaticism, influencing modern music.
  • Lohengrin (1850) – Known for the ethereal "Bridal Chorus" ("Here Comes the Bride").
  • Tannhäuser (1845) – A tale of love, redemption, and divine struggle, featuring the famous Overture and "Pilgrim’s Chorus."
  • The Flying Dutchman (1843) – A dark and stormy opera exploring fate and salvation.
  • Parsifal (1882) – Wagner’s final opera, a deeply spiritual and mystical masterpiece.

Orchestral Innovations and Influence

Wagner’s rich harmonies, expanded orchestration, and use of chromaticism shaped the future of classical music, inspiring composers such as Mahler, Strauss, and even film score composers of the 20th century. His concept of the leitmotif remains a foundational technique in film music today.

Wagner’s Enduring Legacy

Wagner’s operas remain some of the most ambitious and transformative works in Western music. His compositions redefined the possibilities of opera, influencing both classical and contemporary music. The Bayreuth Festival, founded by Wagner himself, continues to stage his operas annually, attracting audiences from around the world.

Richard Wagner

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  • Wagner: Scenes Fro,m Lohengrin, Tannhauser, The Valkyrie - Várady, Seiffert, Fischer-Dieskau, Bavarian Radio Chorus, Bavarian State Orchestra, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau / EMI Classics Audio CD 2002 Stereo / 724357564328 Wagner: Scenes Fro,m Lohengrin, Tannhauser, The Valkyrie - Várady, Seiffert, Fischer-Dieskau, Bavarian Radio Chorus, Bavarian State Orchestra, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau / EMI Classics Audio CD 2002 Stereo / 724357564328
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    Wagner: Scenes Fro,m Lohengrin, Tannhauser, The Valkyrie - Várady, Seiffert, Fischer-Dieskau, Bavarian Radio Chorus, Bavarian State Orchestra, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau / EMI Classics Audio CD 2002 Stereo / 724357564328

    $19.91
    Wagner: Scenes Fro,m Lohengrin, Tannhauser, The Valkyrie - Várady, Seiffert, Fischer-Dieskau, Bavarian Radio Chorus, Bavarian State Orchestra, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau / EMI Classics Audio CD 2002 Stereo UPC...
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  • Wagner Lohengrin  Solti  Decca  Audio CD (B00006469T) Wagner Lohengrin  Solti  Decca  Audio CD (B00006469T)
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    Wagner: Lohengrin / Solti / Decca / Audio CD

    $159.91
    Wagner: Lohengrin / Solti / Decca / Audio CD ASIN B00006469T   Richard Wagner 1813-1883 LOHENGRIN Konzertvereinigung Wiener Staatsopernchor Wiener Philharmoniker SIR GEORG SOLTI CD 1 Prelude Act 1CD 2 Act IICD 3 Act II (conclusion)CD 4...
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  • Eszter Kovács (soprano) - Wagner: Tannhäuser, Der Fliegende Holländer, Die Walküre, Wesendonck Lieder, Tristan Und Isolde, Parsifal, Götterdämmerung / Great Hungarian Voices / Hungaroton Classic Audio CD 2002 Stereo / HCD 32130 Eszter Kovács (soprano) - Wagner: Tannhäuser, Der Fliegende Holländer, Die Walküre, Wesendonck Lieder, Tristan Und Isolde, Parsifal, Götterdämmerung / Great Hungarian Voices / Hungaroton Classic Audio CD 2002 Stereo / HCD 32130
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    Eszter Kovács (soprano) - Wagner: Tannhäuser, Der Fliegende Holländer, Die Walküre, Wesendonck Lieder, Tristan Und Isolde, Parsifal, Götterdämmerung / Great Hungarian Voices / Hungaroton Classic Audio CD 2002 Stereo / HCD 32130

    $69.79
    Eszter Kovács (soprano) - Wagner: Tannhäuser, Der Fliegende Holländer, Die Walküre, Wesendonck Lieder, Tristan Und Isolde, Parsifal, Götterdämmerung / Great Hungarian Voices / Hungaroton Classic Audio CD 2002 Stereo / HCD...
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  • Ouverturen (Vorspiele) - RICHARD WAGNER  CLASSIC DIGITAL  OVERTURES (PRELUDES)  DDD-EDITION  London Festival Orchestra, Philharmonia Slavonica, Alfred Scholz  Audio CD (036244537224) Ouverturen (Vorspiele) - RICHARD WAGNER  CLASSIC DIGITAL  OVERTURES (PRELUDES)  DDD-EDITION  London Festival Orchestra, Philharmonia Slavonica, Alfred Scholz  Audio CD (036244537224)
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    Ouverturen (Vorspiele) - RICHARD WAGNER / CLASSIC DIGITAL / OVERTURES (PRELUDES) / DDD-EDITION / London Festival Orchestra, Philharmonia Slavonica, Alfred Scholz / Audio CD

    $16.99
    Ouverturen (Vorspiele) - RICHARD WAGNER / CLASSIC DIGITAL / OVERTURES (PRELUDES) / DDD-EDITION / London Festival Orchestra, Philharmonia Slavonica, Alfred Scholz / Audio CD UPC 036244537224   Label: Classic Digital (2) – 140...
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  • RICHARD STRAUSS - SALOME / Cebotari, Rothmüller, Höngen, Patzak / Covent Garden 1947, Clemens Krauss / 2CD Set ADD / JGCD 0011-2 / Audio CD RICHARD STRAUSS - SALOME  Cebotari, Rothmüller, Höngen, Patzak  Covent Garden 1947, Clemens Krauss  2CD Set ADD  JGCD 0011-2  Audio CD (4035122000115)
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    RICHARD STRAUSS - SALOME / Cebotari, Rothmüller, Höngen, Patzak / Covent Garden 1947, Clemens Krauss / 2CD Set ADD / JGCD 0011-2 / Audio CD

    $59.91
    RICHARD STRAUSS - SALOME / Cebotari, Rothmüller, Höngen, Patzak / Covent Garden 1947, Clemens Krauss / 2CD Set ADD / JGCD 0011-2 / Audio CD UPC 4035122000115   Richard Strauss (1864-1949)Salome-Maria Cebotari Jokanaan-...
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  • An Evening In VIENNA  The Most Famous Strauss Waltzes  Gala  Audio CD (5708574358323) An Evening In VIENNA  The Most Famous Strauss Waltzes  Gala  Audio CD (5708574358323)
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    An Evening In VIENNA / The Most Famous Strauss Waltzes / Gala / Audio CD

    $11.91
    An Evening In VIENNA / The Most Famous Strauss Waltzes / Gala / Audio CD UPC 5708574358323   Tracklist: 1. Overture: Die Fledermaus 9:05 2. Voices Of Spring, Op. 410 6:51 3. Annen Polka, Op. 117 4:16 4. Roses From The South, Op. 388 9:59 5...
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  • Strauss: Intermezzo - Steffek, Prey, Gruber, Kmentt, Joseph Keilberth / Wiener Staatsoper Live / Orfeo 2x Audio CD, Mono 2008 / C 765 082 I Strauss: Intermezzo - Steffek, Prey, Gruber, Kmentt, Joseph Keilberth / Wiener Staatsoper Live / Orfeo 2x Audio CD, Mono 2008 / C 765 082 I
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    Strauss: Intermezzo - Steffek, Prey, Gruber, Kmentt, Joseph Keilberth / Wiener Staatsoper Live / Orfeo 2x Audio CD, Mono 2008 / C 765 082 I

    $39.91
    Strauss: Intermezzo - Steffek, Prey, Gruber, Kmentt, Joseph Keilberth / Wiener Staatsoper Live / Orfeo 2x Audio CD, Mono 2008 / C 765 082 I UPC 4011790765228   Intermezzo, Op. 72, is a comic opera in two acts by Richard...
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  • Wagner: Die Meistersinger Von Nürnberg - Della Casa, Töpper, Hopf, Frantz, Frick, Pflanzl, Hans Knappertsbusch / Orfeo D'Or, Bayerische Staatsoper Live / Orfeo 4x Audio CD, Mono 1997 / C 462 974 L Wagner: Die Meistersinger Von Nürnberg - Della Casa, Töpper, Hopf, Frantz, Frick, Pflanzl, Hans Knappertsbusch / Orfeo D'Or, Bayerische Staatsoper Live / Orfeo 4x Audio CD, Mono 1997 / C 462 974 L
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    Wagner: Die Meistersinger Von Nürnberg - Della Casa, Töpper, Hopf, Frantz, Frick, Pflanzl, Hans Knappertsbusch / Orfeo D'Or, Bayerische Staatsoper Live / Orfeo 4x Audio CD, Mono 1997 / C 462 974 L

    $189.91
    Wagner: Die Meistersinger Von Nürnberg - Della Casa, Töpper, Hopf, Frantz, Frick, Pflanzl, Hans Knappertsbusch / Orfeo D'Or, Bayerische Staatsoper Live / Orfeo 4x Audio CD, Mono 1997 / C 462 974 L UPC 4011790462424   Die Meistersinger...
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  • Wagner - Overtures: The Mastersingers. Lohengrien. The Elving Dutchman. Rienzi. Tanhauser / Slovac Philh. Dir./Cond.: Bystrik Rezucha / WS Magnetic Audio CD 1992 / WS 144004 Wagner - Overtures: The Mastersingers. Lohengrien. The Elving Dutchman. Rienzi. Tanhauser / Slovac Philh. Dir./Cond.: Bystrik Rezucha / WS Magnetic Audio CD 1992 / WS 144004
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    Wagner - Overtures: The Mastersingers. Lohengrien. The Elving Dutchman. Rienzi. Tanhauser / Slovac Philh. Dir./Cond.: Bystrik Rezucha / WS Magnetic Audio CD 1992 / WS 144004

    $19.90
    Wagner - Overtures: The Mastersingers. Lohengrien. The Elving Dutchman. Rienzi. Tanhauser / Slovac Philh. Dir./Cond.: Bystrik Rezucha / WS Magnetic Audio CD 1992 / WS 144004 UPC 4002587744854   Lohengrin, WWV 75, is...
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  • WAGNER THE FLYING DUTCHMAN / Savonlinna Opera Festival Chorus and Orchestra / Romantic opera in three acts / Music and Libretto RICHARD WAGNER / Conductor: LIEF SEGERSTAM / Director: ILKKA BÄCKMAN / DVD (025646476084) WAGNER THE FLYING DUTCHMAN / Savonlinna Opera Festival Chorus and Orchestra / Romantic opera in three acts / Music and Libretto RICHARD WAGNER / Conductor: LIEF SEGERSTAM / Director: ILKKA BÄCKMAN / DVD (025646476084)
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    WAGNER THE FLYING DUTCHMAN / Savonlinna Opera Festival Chorus and Orchestra / Romantic opera in three acts / Music and Libretto RICHARD WAGNER / Conductor: LIEF SEGERSTAM / Director: ILKKA BÄCKMAN / DVD

    $149.10
    WAGNER THE FLYING DUTCHMAN / Savonlinna Opera Festival Chorus and Orchestra / Romantic opera in three acts / Music and Libretto RICHARD WAGNER / Conductor: LIEF SEGERSTAM / Director: ILKKA BÄCKMAN /...
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  • Wiener Pavillon: Strauss, Lehar, Kalman, Millocker - Sofie Ottosen & Thomas Peter Koppel, Hungarian Symphony Orchestra Szeged, Tamas Veto / Soprano Records Audio CD 2006 / SOPRANOCD03 Wiener Pavillon: Strauss, Lehar, Kalman, Millocker - Sofie Ottosen & Thomas Peter Koppel, Hungarian Symphony Orchestra Szeged, Tamas Veto / Soprano Records Audio CD 2006 / SOPRANOCD03
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    Wiener Pavillon: Strauss, Lehar, Kalman, Millocker - Sofie Ottosen & Thomas Peter Koppel, Hungarian Symphony Orchestra Szeged, Tamas Veto / Soprano Records Audio CD 2006 / SOPRANOCD03

    $33.33
    Wiener Pavillon: Strauss, Lehar, Kalman, Millocker - Sofie Ottosen & Thomas Peter Koppel, Hungarian Symphony Orchestra Szeged, Tamas Veto / Soprano Records Audio CD 2006 / SOPRANOCD03 UPC 5707471006474  Total Playtime 65:26   Made...
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  • Lotte Lehmann Master Classes, Vol. II / Strauss: DER ROSENKAVALIER The Marschallin's Monologue - Mozart: FIGARO'S MARRIAGE - Wagner: LOHENGRIN Ortrud! Where are the good times - Beethoven: FIDELIO Dungeon Scene / DVD (089948432791) Lotte Lehmann Master Classes, Vol. II / Strauss: DER ROSENKAVALIER The Marschallin's Monologue - Mozart: FIGARO'S MARRIAGE - Wagner: LOHENGRIN Ortrud! Where are the good times - Beethoven: FIDELIO Dungeon Scene / DVD (089948432791)
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    Lotte Lehmann Master Classes, Vol. II / Strauss: DER ROSENKAVALIER The Marschallin's Monologue - Mozart: FIGARO'S MARRIAGE - Wagner: LOHENGRIN Ortrud! Where are the good times - Beethoven: FIDELIO Dungeon Scene / DVD

    $99.00
    Lotte Lehmann Master Classes, Vol. II  / Strauss: DER ROSENKAVALIER The Marschallin's Monologue - Mozart: FIGARO'S MARRIAGE - Wagner: LOHENGRIN Ortrud! Where are the good times - Beethoven: FIDELIO Dungeon Scene / DVD   Format:...
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