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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-Böhm: Der Fliegende Holländer - Bayreuth 1971 / Gwyneth Jones, Sieglinde Wagner, Thomas-Stewart, Karl Ridderbusch, Hermin Esser, Harald Ek, Chor und Orchester der Bayereuther Festspiele / Балкантон 3x LP, Stereo, Box Set / ВОА 11413/15 Wagner-Böhm: Der Fliegende Holländer - Bayreuth 1971 / Gwyneth Jones, Sieglinde Wagner, Thomas-Stewart, Karl Ridderbusch, Hermin Esser, Harald Ek, Chor und Orchester der Bayereuther Festspiele / Балкантон 3x LP, Stereo, Box Set / ВОА 11413/15
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    Wagner-Böhm: Der Fliegende Holländer - Bayreuth 1971 / Gwyneth Jones, Sieglinde Wagner, Thomas-Stewart, Karl Ridderbusch, Hermin Esser, Harald Ek, Chor und Orchester der Bayereuther Festspiele / Балкантон 3x LP, Stereo, Box Set / ВОА 11413/15

    $77.77
    Wagner-Böhm: Der Fliegende Holländer - Bayreuth 1971 / Gwyneth Jones, Sieglinde Wagner, Thomas-Stewart, Karl Ridderbusch, Hermin Esser, Harald Ek, Chor und Orchester der Bayereuther Festspiele / Балкантон 3x LP, Stereo, Box Set ВОА...
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  • Wagner: Lohengrin (Großer Querschnitt) - Rudolf Schock, Maud Cunitz, Gottlob Frick, Josef Metternich Und Andere / Chor und Symphonieorchester Des Norddeutschen Rundfunks Hamburg, Dirigent: Wilhelm Schüchter / Dacapo LP / 1 C 047-01 955 L Wagner: Lohengrin (Großer Querschnitt) - Rudolf Schock, Maud Cunitz, Gottlob Frick, Josef Metternich Und Andere / Chor und Symphonieorchester Des Norddeutschen Rundfunks Hamburg, Dirigent: Wilhelm Schüchter / Dacapo LP / 1 C 047-01 955 L
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    Wagner: Lohengrin (Großer Querschnitt) - Rudolf Schock, Maud Cunitz, Gottlob Frick, Josef Metternich Und Andere / Chor und Symphonieorchester Des Norddeutschen Rundfunks Hamburg, Dirigent: Wilhelm Schüchter / Dacapo LP / 1 C 047-01 955 L

    $77.77
    Wagner: Lohengrin (Großer Querschnitt) - Rudolf Schock, Maud Cunitz, Gottlob Frick, Josef Metternich Und Andere / Chor und Symphonieorchester Des Norddeutschen Rundfunks Hamburg, Dirigent: Wilhelm Schüchter / Dacapo LP 1 C 047-01 955...
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  • Richard Wagner: Die Meistersinger Von Nürnberg Querschnitt (Querschnitt - Highlights - Brani Scelti) / Catarina Ligendza, Christa Ludwig, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, Placido Domingo, Horst R. Laubenthal / Deutsche Grammophon LP Stereo 1976 / 2537 041 Richard Wagner: Die Meistersinger Von Nürnberg Querschnitt (Querschnitt - Highlights - Brani Scelti) / Catarina Ligendza, Christa Ludwig, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, Placido Domingo, Horst R. Laubenthal / Deutsche Grammophon LP Stereo 1976 / 2537 041
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    Richard Wagner: Die Meistersinger Von Nürnberg Querschnitt (Querschnitt - Highlights - Brani Scelti) / Catarina Ligendza, Christa Ludwig, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, Placido Domingo, Horst R. Laubenthal / Deutsche Grammophon LP Stereo 1976 / 2537 041

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    Richard Wagner: Die Meistersinger Von Nürnberg Querschnitt (Querschnitt - Highlights - Brani Scelti) / Catarina Ligendza, Christa Ludwig, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, Placido Domingo, Horst R. Laubenthal / Deutsche Grammophon LP Stereo 1976  2537...
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  • Kirsten Flagstad Sings Wagner - Wesendonk Lieder / Einsam In Traüben Tagen (Elsa's Dream) - ''Lohengrin''; Ich Sah' Das Kind - ''Parsifal''; Der Manner Sippe And Du Bist Der Lenz - ''Die Walkure'' / Ace Of Diamonds LP Stereo 1969 / SDD 212 Kirsten Flagstad Sings Wagner - Wesendonk Lieder / Einsam In Traüben Tagen (Elsa's Dream) - ''Lohengrin''; Ich Sah' Das Kind - ''Parsifal''; Der Manner Sippe And Du Bist Der Lenz - ''Die Walkure'' / Ace Of Diamonds LP Stereo 1969 / SDD 212
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    Kirsten Flagstad Sings Wagner - Wesendonk Lieder / Einsam In Traüben Tagen (Elsa's Dream) - ''Lohengrin''; Ich Sah' Das Kind - ''Parsifal''; Der Manner Sippe And Du Bist Der Lenz - ''Die Walkure'' / Ace Of Diamonds LP Stereo 1969 / SDD 212

    $77.77
    Kirsten Flagstad Sings Wagner - Wesendonk Lieder / Einsam In Traüben Tagen (Elsa's Dream) - ''Lohengrin''; Ich Sah' Das Kind - ''Parsifal''; Der Manner Sippe And Du Bist Der Lenz - ''Die Walkure'' / Ace Of Diamonds LP Stereo 1969 SDD...
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  • Richard Wagner - Der Ring des Nibelungen 4 DVD Das Rheingold, Die Walküre, Siegfried and Götterdämmerung / Müpa Budapest / Director: Hartmut Schörghofer / Artistic Director Conductor: Adam Fischer Richard Wagner - Der Ring des Nibelungen 4 DVD Das Rheingold, Die Walküre, Siegfried and Götterdämmerung / Müpa Budapest / Director: Hartmut Schörghofer / Artistic Director Conductor: Adam Fischer
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    Richard Wagner - Der Ring des Nibelungen 4 DVD Das Rheingold, Die Walküre, Siegfried and Götterdämmerung / Müpa Budapest / Director: Hartmut Schörghofer / Artistic Director Conductor: Adam Fischer

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    Richard Wagner - Der Ring des Nibelungen 4 DVD Das Rheingold, Die Walküre, Siegfried and Götterdämmerung / Müpa Budapest / Director: Hartmut Schörghofer / Artistic Director Conductor: Adam Fischer  Featuring international...
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  • Wagner - Great Scenes From The Ring - Birgit Nilsson, Wolfgang Windgassen, Hans Hotter, Wiener Philharmoniker, Sir Georg Solti / Virtuoso / Decca Audio CD 2012 / 478 4215 Wagner - Great Scenes From The Ring - Birgit Nilsson, Wolfgang Windgassen, Hans Hotter, Wiener Philharmoniker, Sir Georg Solti / Virtuoso / Decca Audio CD 2012 / 478 4215
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    Wagner - Great Scenes From The Ring - Birgit Nilsson, Wolfgang Windgassen, Hans Hotter, Wiener Philharmoniker, Sir Georg Solti / Virtuoso / Decca Audio CD

    $69.10
    Wagner - Great Scenes From The Ring - Birgit Nilsson, Wolfgang Windgassen, Hans Hotter, Wiener Philharmoniker, Sir Georg Solti / Virtuoso / Decca Audio CD 2012 / 478 4215 UPC 028947842156   Wilhelm Richard...
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  • Wagner - Tristan Und Isolde - Wilhelm Furtwängler, Kirsten Flagstad, Ludwig Suthaus, Philharmonia Orchestra / EMI Classics 4x Audio CD Mono, Box Set / 724358587326 Wagner - Tristan Und Isolde - Wilhelm Furtwängler, Kirsten Flagstad, Ludwig Suthaus, Philharmonia Orchestra / EMI Classics 4x Audio CD Mono, Box Set / 724358587326
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    Wagner - Tristan Und Isolde - Wilhelm Furtwängler, Kirsten Flagstad, Ludwig Suthaus, Philharmonia Orchestra / EMI Classics 4x Audio CD Mono, Box Set / 724358587326

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    Wagner - Tristan Und Isolde - Wilhelm Furtwängler, Kirsten Flagstad, Ludwig Suthaus, Philharmonia Orchestra / EMI Classics 4x Audio CD Mono, Box Set  UPC 724358587326   Tristan und Isolde (Tristan and Isolde), WWV 90, is...
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  • Wagner - Sándor Sólyom-Nagy (baritone) - Die Meistersinger Von Nürnberg; Parsifal; Tannhäuser; Das Rheingold / Hungarian State Opera Chorus And Orchestra, János Ferencsik / Hungaroton Audio Cassette 1983 Stereo / MK 12480 Wagner - Sándor Sólyom-Nagy (baritone) - Die Meistersinger Von Nürnberg; Parsifal; Tannhäuser; Das Rheingold / Hungarian State Opera Chorus And Orchestra, János Ferencsik / Hungaroton Audio Cassette 1983 Stereo / MK 12480
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    Wagner - Sándor Sólyom-Nagy (baritone) - Die Meistersinger Von Nürnberg; Parsifal; Tannhäuser; Das Rheingold / Hungarian State Opera Chorus And Orchestra, János Ferencsik / Hungaroton Audio Cassette 1983 Stereo / MK 12480

    $77.77
    Wagner - Sándor Sólyom-Nagy (baritone) - Die Meistersinger Von Nürnberg; Parsifal; Tannhäuser; Das Rheingold / Hungarian State Opera Chorus And Orchestra, János Ferencsik / Hungaroton Audio Cassette 1983 Stereo  MK...
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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

    $79.91
    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

    $79.91
    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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