null

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

Sort By:

Display Type:
Filters
  • Product
  • Qty in Cart
  • Quantity
  • Price
  • Subtotal
  • Wagner E Venezia: Tristan Und Isolde, Tannhäuser, Lohengrin, Die Meistersinger Von Nürnberg, Die Walkure - Uri Caine Ensemble, Live at Gran Caffe Quadri, Piazza San Marco and Hotel Metropole / Winter & Winter Audio CD 1997 / 910 013-2 Wagner E Venezia: Tristan Und Isolde, Tannhäuser, Lohengrin, Die Meistersinger Von Nürnberg, Die Walkure - Uri Caine Ensemble, Live at Gran Caffe Quadri, Piazza San Marco and Hotel Metropole / Winter & Winter Audio CD 1997 / 910 013-2
    Quick view

    Wagner E Venezia: Tristan Und Isolde, Tannhäuser, Lohengrin, Die Meistersinger Von Nürnberg, Die Walkure - Uri Caine Ensemble, Live at Gran Caffe Quadri, Piazza San Marco and Hotel Metropole / Winter & Winter Audio CD 1997 / 910 013-2

    $29.91
    Wagner E Venezia: Tristan Und Isolde, Tannhäuser, Lohengrin, Die Meistersinger Von Nürnberg, Die Walkure - Uri Caine Ensemble, Live at Gran Caffe Quadri, Piazza San Marco and Hotel Metropole / Winter & Winter Audio CD 1997 / 910 013-2 UPC...
    Qty in Cart: 0
    Quantity:
    Price:
    $29.91
    Subtotal:
  • Tristan Und Isolde - Richard Wagner / Tristan: Max Lorenz, Isolde: Paula Baumann, Konig Marke: Theo Herrmann, Kurwenal: Karl Kronenberg, Brangane: Margarete Klose, Melot: Peter Markwort / Melodram 4x LP, Box Set / MEL 444 (4) Tristan Und Isolde - Richard Wagner / Tristan: Max Lorenz, Isolde: Paula Baumann, Konig Marke: Theo Herrmann, Kurwenal: Karl Kronenberg, Brangane: Margarete Klose, Melot: Peter Markwort / Melodram 4x LP, Box Set / MEL 444 (4)
    Quick view

    Tristan Und Isolde - Richard Wagner / Tristan: Max Lorenz, Isolde: Paula Baumann, Konig Marke: Theo Herrmann, Kurwenal: Karl Kronenberg, Brangane: Margarete Klose, Melot: Peter Markwort / Melodram 4x LP, Box Set / MEL 444 (4)

    $77.77
    Tristan Und Isolde - Richard Wagner / Tristan: Max Lorenz, Isolde: Paula Baumann, Konig Marke: Theo Herrmann, Kurwenal: Karl Kronenberg, Brangane: Margarete Klose, Melot: Peter Markwort / Melodram 4x LP, Box Set MEL 444 (4)   Label: Melodram...
    Qty in Cart: 0
    Quantity:
    Price:
    $77.77
    Subtotal:
  • Richard Wagner - Das Rheingold / Der Ring des Nibelungen / Stage Director: Joachim Schlomer / Zagrosek, Probst, Schuster, Indridadottir, Ruuttunen / Staatsoper Stuttgart / EuroArts / 2003 DVD (5450270007950) Richard Wagner - Das Rheingold / Der Ring des Nibelungen / Stage Director: Joachim Schlomer / Zagrosek, Probst, Schuster, Indridadottir, Ruuttunen / Staatsoper Stuttgart / EuroArts / 2003 DVD (5450270007950)
    Quick view

    Richard Wagner - Das Rheingold / Der Ring des Nibelungen / Stage Director: Joachim Schlomer / Zagrosek, Probst, Schuster, Indridadottir, Ruuttunen / Staatsoper Stuttgart / EuroArts / 2003 DVD

    $39.91
    Richard Wagner - Das Rheingold / Der Ring des Nibelungen / Stage Director: Joachim Schlomer / Zagrosek, Probst, Schuster, Indridadottir, Ruuttunen / Staatsoper Stuttgart / EuroArts / 2003 DVD Total Playtime: 152 Minutes Region 0 PAL Made in...
    Qty in Cart: 0
    Quantity:
    Price:
    $39.91
    Subtotal:
  • Wagner: Siegfried-Idyll - Mikhaïl Rudy / Piano transcriptions and original works / EMI Classics Audio CD 2003 Stereo / 724355718129 Wagner: Siegfried-Idyll - Mikhaïl Rudy / Piano transcriptions and original works / EMI Classics Audio CD 2003 Stereo / 724355718129
    Quick view

    Wagner: Siegfried-Idyll - Mikhaïl Rudy / Piano transcriptions and original works / EMI Classics Audio CD 2003 Stereo / 724355718129

    $59.91
    Wagner: Siegfried-Idyll - Mikhaïl Rudy / Piano transcriptions and original works / EMI Classics Audio CD 2003 Stereo UPC 724355718129   Label: EMI Classics –...
    Qty in Cart: 0
    Quantity:
    Price:
    $59.91
    Subtotal:
  • Wagner: Der Ring Des Nibelungen - Clemens Krauss / Varnay, Resnik, Malaniuk, Ilosvay, Hinsch-Gribdahl,, Hotter, Windgassen, Vinay, Neidlinger, Greindl, Uhde, Weber, Kuen, Witte / Orfeo D'Or 13x Audio CD, Mono, Box Set 2010 / C 809 113 R Wagner: Der Ring Des Nibelungen - Clemens Krauss / Varnay, Resnik, Malaniuk, Ilosvay, Hinsch-Gribdahl,, Hotter, Windgassen, Vinay, Neidlinger, Greindl, Uhde, Weber, Kuen, Witte / Orfeo D'Or 13x Audio CD, Mono, Box Set 2010 / C 809 113 R
    Quick view

    Wagner: Der Ring Des Nibelungen - Clemens Krauss / Varnay, Resnik, Malaniuk, Ilosvay, Hinsch-Gribdahl,, Hotter, Windgassen, Vinay, Neidlinger, Greindl, Uhde, Weber, Kuen, Witte / Orfeo D'Or 13x Audio CD, Mono, Box Set 2010 / C 809 113 R

    $199.91
    Wagner: Der Ring Des Nibelungen - Clemens Krauss / Varnay, Resnik, Malaniuk, Ilosvay, Hinsch-Gribdahl,, Hotter, Windgassen, Vinay, Neidlinger, Greindl, Uhde, Weber, Kuen, Witte / Orfeo D'Or 13x Audio CD, Mono, Box Set 2010 / C 809 113 R UPC...
    Qty in Cart: 0
    Price:
    $199.91
    Subtotal:
  • Gluck: Iphigenie In Aulis (Opera in 3 Akten in der Bearbeitung von Richard Wagner), Gesamtaufnahme in deutscher Sprache ''complete'' / Anna Moffo, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau / Eurodisc 2x LP, Box Set, Stereo / 86 271 XR Gluck: Iphigenie In Aulis (Opera in 3 Akten in der Bearbeitung von Richard Wagner), Gesamtaufnahme in deutscher Sprache ''complete'' / Anna Moffo, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau / Eurodisc 2x LP, Box Set, Stereo / 86 271 XR
    Quick view

    Gluck: Iphigenie In Aulis (Opera in 3 Akten in der Bearbeitung von Richard Wagner), Gesamtaufnahme in deutscher Sprache ''complete'' / Anna Moffo, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau / Eurodisc 2x LP, Box Set, Stereo / 86 271 XR

    $77.77
    Gluck: Iphigenie In Aulis (Opera in 3 Akten in der Bearbeitung von Richard Wagner), Gesamtaufnahme in deutscher Sprache ''complete'' / Anna Moffo, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau / Eurodisc 2x LP, Box Set, Stereo  86 271 XR   Label: Eurodisc...
    Qty in Cart: 0
    Quantity:
    Price:
    $77.77
    Subtotal:
  • Wagner - Sandor Solyom-Nagy (baritone) - Die Meistersinger Von Nürnberg; Parsifal; Tannhauser; Das Rheingold / Hungarian State Opera Chorus and Orchestra, Janos Ferencsik / Hungaroton LP 1983 / SLPD 12480 Wagner - Sandor Solyom-Nagy (baritone) - Die Meistersinger Von Nürnberg; Parsifal; Tannhauser; Das Rheingold / Hungarian State Opera Chorus and Orchestra, Janos Ferencsik / Hungaroton LP 1983 / SLPD 12480
    Quick view

    Wagner - Sandor Solyom-Nagy (baritone) - Die Meistersinger Von Nürnberg; Parsifal; Tannhauser; Das Rheingold / Hungarian State Opera Chorus and Orchestra, Janos Ferencsik / Hungaroton LP 1983 / SLPD 12480

    $77.77
    Wagner - Sandor Solyom-Nagy (baritone) - Die Meistersinger Von Nürnberg; Parsifal; Tannhauser; Das Rheingold / Hungarian State Opera Chorus and Orchestra, Janos Ferencsik / Hungaroton LP 1983 SLPD 12480   Label: Hungaroton – SLPD...
    Qty in Cart: 0
    Quantity:
    Price:
    $77.77
    Subtotal:
  • Richard Wagner: Der Fliegende Holländer (Grosser Querschnitt) - Theo Adam, Anja Silja, Martti Talvela, Gerhard Unger, Ernst Kozub, Annelies Burmeister, B.B.C. Chorus, New Philharmonia Orchestra London / EMI LP / 1C 063-00 828 Richard Wagner: Der Fliegende Holländer (Grosser Querschnitt) - Theo Adam, Anja Silja, Martti Talvela, Gerhard Unger, Ernst Kozub, Annelies Burmeister, B.B.C. Chorus, New Philharmonia Orchestra London / EMI LP / 1C 063-00 828
    Quick view

    Richard Wagner: Der Fliegende Holländer (Grosser Querschnitt) - Theo Adam, Anja Silja, Martti Talvela, Gerhard Unger, Ernst Kozub, Annelies Burmeister, B.B.C. Chorus, New Philharmonia Orchestra London / EMI LP / 1C 063-00 828

    $77.77
    Richard Wagner: The Flying Dutchman (Big Cross Section) - Theo Adam, Anja Silja, Martti Talvela, Gerhard Unger, Ernst Kozub, Annelies Burmeister, BBC Chorus, New Philharmonia Orchestra London / EMI LP  1C 063-00 828   Labels: EMI...
    Qty in Cart: 0
    Quantity:
    Price:
    $77.77
    Subtotal:
  • Otto Nicolai: Die Lustigen Weiber Von Windsor - Katharina Alder, Evelyn Lear, Sieglinde Wagner, Marcel Cordes, Franz Crass, Ernst Haefliger, Dirigent: Hans Lowlein / Deutsche Grammophon LP 1964 / LPEM 19 421 Otto Nicolai: Die Lustigen Weiber Von Windsor - Katharina Alder, Evelyn Lear, Sieglinde Wagner, Marcel Cordes, Franz Crass, Ernst Haefliger, Dirigent: Hans Lowlein / Deutsche Grammophon LP 1964 / LPEM 19 421
    Quick view

    Otto Nicolai: Die Lustigen Weiber Von Windsor - Katharina Alder, Evelyn Lear, Sieglinde Wagner, Marcel Cordes, Franz Crass, Ernst Haefliger, Dirigent: Hans Lowlein / Deutsche Grammophon LP 1964 / LPEM 19 421

    $77.77
    Otto Nicolai: Die Lustigen Weiber Von Windsor - Katharina Alder, Evelyn Lear, Sieglinde Wagner, Marcel Cordes, Franz Crass, Ernst Haefliger, Dirigent: Hans Lowlein / Deutsche Grammophon LP 1964 LPEM 19 421   Label: Deutsche Grammophon...
    Qty in Cart: 0
    Quantity:
    Price:
    $77.77
    Subtotal:
  • Wagner: Die Walküre (Originalaufnahme der Buhnefestspiele, Bayreuth 1951)- 3. Aufzug / Sigurd Björling, Astrid Varnay, Leonie Rysanek, Herbert Von Karajan, Festspiel-Orchester, Bayreuth / His Master's Voice 2x LP / 1C 181-03 035/36M Wagner: Die Walküre (Originalaufnahme der Buhnefestspiele, Bayreuth 1951)- 3. Aufzug / Sigurd Björling, Astrid Varnay, Leonie Rysanek, Herbert Von Karajan, Festspiel-Orchester, Bayreuth / His Master's Voice 2x LP / 1C 181-03 035/36M
    Quick view

    Wagner: Die Walküre (Originalaufnahme der Buhnefestspiele, Bayreuth 1951)- 3. Aufzug / Sigurd Björling, Astrid Varnay, Leonie Rysanek, Herbert Von Karajan, Festspiel-Orchester, Bayreuth / His Master's Voice 2x LP / 1C 181-03 035/36M

    $77.77
    Wagner: Die Walküre (Originalaufnahme der Buhnefestspiele, Bayreuth 1951)- 3. Aufzug / Sigurd Björling, Astrid Varnay, Leonie Rysanek, Herbert Von Karajan, Festspiel-Orchester, Bayreuth / His Master's Voice 2x LP 1C 181-03...
    Qty in Cart: 0
    Quantity:
    Price:
    $77.77
    Subtotal:
  • Wagner: Lohengrin - Steber, Windgassen, Varnay, Uhde, Bayreuth Festival Orchestra, Keilberth / Richmond 5x LP, Box Set, Mono / RS 65003 Wagner: Lohengrin - Steber, Windgassen, Varnay, Uhde, Bayreuth Festival Orchestra, Keilberth / Richmond 5x LP, Box Set, Mono / RS 65003
    Quick view

    Wagner: Lohengrin - Steber, Windgassen, Varnay, Uhde, Bayreuth Festival Orchestra, Keilberth / Richmond 5x LP, Box Set, Mono / RS 65003

    $77.77
    Wagner: Lohengrin - Steber, Windgassen, Varnay, Uhde, Bayreuth Festival Orchestra, Keilberth / Richmond 5x LP, Box Set, Mono  RS 65003   Label: Richmond – RS 65003 Format: 5 x Vinyl, LP, Album, Mono, Box...
    Qty in Cart: 0
    Quantity:
    Price:
    $77.77
    Subtotal:
  • Toscanini - Helen Traubel, Lauritz Melchior: Great Scenes from Wagner - NBC Symphony Orchestra / Immortal Performances / RCA Victrola LP Mono 1968 / VIC-1369 Toscanini - Helen Traubel, Lauritz Melchior: Great Scenes from Wagner - NBC Symphony Orchestra / Immortal Performances / RCA Victrola LP Mono 1968 / VIC-1369
    Quick view

    Toscanini - Helen Traubel, Lauritz Melchior: Great Scenes from Wagner - NBC Symphony Orchestra / Immortal Performances / RCA Victrola LP Mono 1968 / VIC-1369

    $77.77
    Toscanini - Helen Traubel, Lauritz Melchior: Great Scenes from Wagner - NBC Symphony Orchestra / Immortal Performances / RCA Victrola LP Mono 1968 VIC-1369   Label: RCA Victrola – VIC-1369 Series: Immortal...
    Qty in Cart: 0
    Quantity:
    Price:
    $77.77
    Subtotal:
  • Total: items /

Adding your products to cart