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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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  • Friedrich Schorr, Wagner – Scenes From "Die Meistersinger" / Seraphim / LP VINYL 60189 Friedrich Schorr, Wagner – Scenes From "Die Meistersinger" / Seraphim / LP VINYL 60189
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    Friedrich Schorr, Wagner – Scenes From "Die Meistersinger" / Seraphim / LP VINYL 60189

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    Friedrich Schorr, Wagner – Scenes From "Die Meistersinger" / Seraphim / LP VINYL 60189 UPC 60189       Label: Seraphim – 60189 Series: Great Recordings Of The Century (3) Format: Vinyl, LP,...
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  • Wagner – Soul Of Germany / London Symphony Orchestra / A-Play Classics Audio CD 1998 / 9032-2 Wagner – Soul Of Germany / London Symphony Orchestra / A-Play Classics Audio CD 1998 / 9032-2
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    Wagner – Soul Of Germany / London Symphony Orchestra / A-Play Classics Audio CD 1998 / 9032-2

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    Wagner – Soul Of Germany / London Symphony Orchestra / A-Play Classics Audio CD 1998 / 9032-2 UPC 5703976103205   Wilhelm Richard Wagner (/ˈvɑːɡnər/ VAHG-nər; German: [ˈʁɪçaʁt ˈvaːɡnɐ]; 22 May 1813 – 13...
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  • Flagstad & Melchior - The Complete Wagner Duets / Pearl Audio CD / GEMM CD 9190 Flagstad & Melchior - The Complete Wagner Duets / Pearl Audio CD / GEMM CD 9190
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    Flagstad & Melchior - The Complete Wagner Duets / Pearl Audio CD / GEMM CD 9190

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    Flagstad & Melchior - The Complete Wagner Duets / Pearl Audio CD / GEMM CD 9190 UPC 727031919025   Kirsten Malfrid Flagstad (12 July 1895 – 7 December 1962) was a Norwegian opera singer, who was the outstanding Wagnerian soprano of her...
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  • Wagner - Adam, Esser, Windgassen, Nienstedt, Neidlinger, Talvela, Silja, Burmeister, Dernesch, Orchester der Bayreuther Festspiele, Böhm – Das Rheingold Decca – 478 5282 Audio CD 2013 Wagner - Adam, Esser, Windgassen, Nienstedt, Neidlinger, Talvela, Silja, Burmeister, Dernesch, Orchester der Bayreuther Festspiele, Böhm – Das Rheingold Decca – 478 5282 Audio CD 2013
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    Wagner – Das Rheingold / Adam, Esser, Windgassen, Nienstedt, Neidlinger, Talvela, Silja, Burmeister, Dernesch, Orchester der Bayreuther Festspiele, Karl Böhm / Decca – 478 5282 Audio CD 2013

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    Wagner – Das Rheingold / Adam, Esser, Windgassen, Nienstedt, Neidlinger, Talvela, Silja, Burmeister, Dernesch, Orchester der Bayreuther Festspiele, Karl Böhm / Decca – 478 5282 Audio CD...
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  • Wagner Lohengrin Thomas Silja Varnay Vinay Crass Krause Bayreuther Festspiele Sawallisch Decca Records Audio CD 2013 Wagner Lohengrin Thomas Silja Varnay Vinay Crass Krause Bayreuther Festspiele Sawallisch Decca Records Audio CD 2013
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    Wagner - Lohengrin / Thomas - Silja - Varnay - Vinay - Crass - Krause / Bayreuther Festspiele Sawallisch / Decca Records Audio CD 2013

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    Wagner - Lohengrin / Thomas - Silja - Varnay - Vinay - Crass - Krause / Bayreuther Festspiele Sawallisch / Decca Records Audio CD 2013 UPC 028947858027   Richard Wagner 1813-1883 Wagner's musical output is listed by...
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  • Richard Wagner • Semyon Bychkov • Johan Botha • Adrianne Pieczonka • Petra Lang • Kwangchul Youn • Falk Struckmann • Eike Wilm Schulte • WDR Rundfunkchor Köln • NDR Chor • Prager Kammerchor* • WDR Sinfonieorchester Köln – Lohengrin Label: Profil Edition Günter Hänssler – PH09004 Richard Wagner • Semyon Bychkov • Johan Botha • Adrianne Pieczonka • Petra Lang • Kwangchul Youn • Falk Struckmann • Eike Wilm Schulte • WDR Rundfunkchor Köln • NDR Chor • Prager Kammerchor* • WDR Sinfonieorchester Köln – Lohengrin Label: Profil Edition Günter Hänssler – PH09004
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    Richard Wagner • Semyon Bychkov • Johan Botha • Adrianne Pieczonka • Petra Lang • Kwangchul Youn • Falk Struckmann • Eike Wilm Schulte Rundfunkchor Köln • NDR Chor • Kammerchor • WDR Sinfonieorchester Köln – Lohengrin / Günter Hänssler Audio CD 2008

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    Richard Wagner • Semyon Bychkov • Johan Botha • Adrianne Pieczonka • Petra Lang • Kwangchul Youn • Falk Struckmann • Eike Wilm Schulte • WDR Rundfunkchor Köln • NDR Chor • Prager Kammerchor •...
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  • Wagner - René Kollo, Gottlob Frick, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, Christa Ludwig, Zoltan Kélémen, Hans Hotter, Vienna Philharmonic, Sir Georg Solti – Parsifal Decca – 483 2510 (Opera) Audio CD 1973 Decca Music Group 2017 Wagner - René Kollo, Gottlob Frick, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, Christa Ludwig, Zoltan Kélémen, Hans Hotter, Vienna Philharmonic, Sir Georg Solti – Parsifal Decca – 483 2510 (Opera) Audio CD 1973 Decca Music Group 2017
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    Wagner – Parsifal / René Kollo, Gottlob Frick, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, Christa Ludwig, Zoltan Kélémen, Hans Hotter, Vienna Philharmonic, Sir Georg Solti / Decca – 483 2510 (Opera) Audio CD 1973 / Decca Music Group 2017

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    Wagner – Parsifal / René Kollo, Gottlob Frick, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, Christa Ludwig, Zoltan Kélémen, Hans Hotter, Vienna Philharmonic, Sir Georg Solti / Decca – 483 2510 (Opera) Audio CD 1973 / Decca Music Group 2017...
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  • Wagner - Bayreuther Festspiele, Hans Knappertsbusch – Parsifal / Decca – 475 7785 Audio CD 2006 / Universal International Music 1964 Wagner - Bayreuther Festspiele, Hans Knappertsbusch – Parsifal / Decca – 475 7785 Audio CD 2006 / Universal International Music 1964
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    Wagner - Bayreuther Festspiele, Hans Knappertsbusch – Parsifal / Decca – 475 7785 Audio CD 2006 / Universal International Music 1964

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    Wagner - Bayreuther Festspiele, Hans Knappertsbusch – Parsifal / Decca – 475 7785 Audio CD 2006 / Universal International Music 1964  UPC 028947577850   Label: Decca – 475 7785 Series: The...
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  • Wagner - Nillson • Uhl • Resnik • Wiener Philharmoniker • Solti – Tristan Und Isolde Decca Audio CD 2012 Wagner - Nillson • Uhl • Resnik • Wiener Philharmoniker • Solti – Tristan Und Isolde Decca Audio CD 2012
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    Wagner - Nillson • Uhl • Resnik • Wiener Philharmoniker • Solti – Tristan Und Isolde / Decca Audio CD 2012

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    Wagner - Nillson • Uhl • Resnik • Wiener Philharmoniker • Solti – Tristan Und Isolde / Decca Audio CD 2012 UPC 028947841777     Label: Decca – 478 4177 Series: The Opera Company Format: 4...
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  • Wagner - Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, Catarina Ligendza, Christa Ludwig, Plácido Domingo, Horst R. Laubenthal, Roland Hermann, Chor Und Orchester Der Deutschen Oper Berlin, Jochum – Die Meistersinger Von Nürnberg / Deutsche Grammophon Audio CD 2009 Wagner - Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, Catarina Ligendza, Christa Ludwig, Plácido Domingo, Horst R. Laubenthal, Roland Hermann, Chor Und Orchester Der Deutschen Oper Berlin, Jochum – Die Meistersinger Von Nürnberg / Deutsche Grammophon Audio CD 2009
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    Wagner – Die Meistersinger Von Nürnberg / Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, Catarina Ligendza, Christa Ludwig, Plácido Domingo, Horst R. Laubenthal, Roland Hermann, Chor Und Orchester Der Deutschen Oper Berlin, Jochum / Deutsche Grammophon Audio CD 2009

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    Wagner – Die Meistersinger Von Nürnberg / Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, Catarina Ligendza, Christa Ludwig, Plácido Domingo, Horst R. Laubenthal, Roland Hermann, Chor Und Orchester Der Deutschen Oper Berlin, Jochum / Deutsche Grammophon...
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  • Richard Wagner, James King, Gwyneth Jones, Franz Crass, Karl Ridderbusch, Thomas Stewart, Donald McIntyre Parsifal Chor und Orchester der Bayreuther Festspiele Pierre Boulez Universal Music Group Audio CD 1971 Richard Wagner, James King, Gwyneth Jones, Franz Crass, Karl Ridderbusch, Thomas Stewart, Donald McIntyre Parsifal Chor und Orchester der Bayreuther Festspiele Pierre Boulez Universal Music Group Audio CD 1971
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    Richard Wagner, James King, Gwyneth Jones, Franz Crass, Karl Ridderbusch, Thomas Stewart, Donald McIntyre Parsifal Chor und Orchester der Bayreuther Festspiele Pierre Boulez / Universal Music Group Audio CD 1971

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    Richard Wagner, James King, Gwyneth Jones, Franz Crass, Karl Ridderbusch, Thomas Stewart, Donald McIntyre Parsifal Chor und Orchester der Bayreuther Festspiele Pierre Boulez / Universal Music Group Audio CD 1971 UPC 028943571821   3 compact...
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  • Wagner Parsifal Maria Gallas - Vittorio Gui Gallas Live Remastered Warner Classics, Parlophone Records Limited Audio CD 2017 Wagner Parsifal Maria Gallas - Vittorio Gui Gallas Live Remastered Warner Classics, Parlophone Records Limited Audio CD 2017
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    Wagner Parsifal Maria Gallas - Vittorio Gui / Gallas Live Remastered / Warner Classics, Parlophone Records Limited Audio CD 2017

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    Wagner Parsifal Maria Gallas - Vittorio Gui / Gallas Live Remastered / Warner Classics, Parlophone Records Limited Audio CD 2017 UPC 190295844455   Richchard Wagner (1813-1883) Parsifal  Dramma mistico in tre atti  Maria...
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