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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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  • Hugo Wolf - Wagner Paraphrases and Other Piano Pieces / Emese Virag / Hungaroton Classic Audio CD 2008 Stereo / HCD 32466 Hugo Wolf - Wagner Paraphrases and Other Piano Pieces / Emese Virag / Hungaroton Classic Audio CD 2008 Stereo / HCD 32466
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    Hugo Wolf - Wagner Paraphrases and Other Piano Pieces / Emese Virag / Hungaroton Classic Audio CD 2008 Stereo / HCD 32466

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    Hugo Wolf - Wagner Paraphrases and Other Piano Pieces / Emese Virag / Hungaroton Classic Audio CD 2008 Stereo / HCD 32466 UPC 5991813246622   Egyáltalán nincs könnyű helyzetben az, aki befejezett Wolf-zongoradarabokat...
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  • Richard Wagner - Der Ring Des Nibelungen - Furtwängler / Membran 13x Audio CD Mono / 233411 Richard Wagner - Der Ring Des Nibelungen - Furtwängler / Membran 13x Audio CD Mono / 233411
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    Richard Wagner - Der Ring Des Nibelungen - Furtwängler / Membran 13x Audio CD Mono / 233411

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    Richard Wagner - Der Ring Des Nibelungen - Furtwängler / Membran 13x Audio CD Mono / 233411 UPC 885150334119   Label: Membran – 233411 Format: 13 x CD, Reissue, Mono Country: Europe Genre: Classical Style:...
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  • Richard Wagner - Tristan Und Isolde (Szenen) / Helga Dernesch, Jon Vickers, Christa Ludwig, Walter Berry, Karl Ridderbusch, Chor der Deutschen Oper Berlin, Berliner Philharmoniker, Herbert von Karajan / ETERNA LP 1976 Stereo / 8 27 009 Richard Wagner - Tristan Und Isolde (Szenen) / Helga Dernesch, Jon Vickers, Christa Ludwig, Walter Berry, Karl Ridderbusch, Chor der Deutschen Oper Berlin, Berliner Philharmoniker, Herbert von Karajan / ETERNA LP 1976 Stereo / 8 27 009
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    Richard Wagner - Tristan Und Isolde (Szenen) / Helga Dernesch, Jon Vickers, Christa Ludwig, Walter Berry, Karl Ridderbusch, Chor der Deutschen Oper Berlin, Berliner Philharmoniker, Herbert von Karajan / ETERNA LP 1976 Stereo / 8 27 009

    $77.77
    Richard Wagner - Tristan Und Isolde (Szenen) / Helga Dernesch, Jon Vickers, Christa Ludwig, Walter Berry, Karl Ridderbusch, Chor der Deutschen Oper Berlin, Berliner Philharmoniker, Herbert von Karajan / ETERNA LP 1976 Stereo 8 27 009   Tristan...
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  • Wagner - Ouvertures / Die Meistersinger Von Nürnberg, Faust, Tannhauser, Parsifal / Orchestra Of The Hungarian Radio And Television, Conducted by Antal Jancsovics / Hungaroton LP Stereo / LPX 11463 Wagner - Ouvertures / Die Meistersinger Von Nürnberg, Faust, Tannhauser, Parsifal / Orchestra Of The Hungarian Radio And Television, Conducted by Antal Jancsovics / Hungaroton LP Stereo / LPX 11463
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    Wagner - Ouvertures / Die Meistersinger Von Nürnberg, Faust, Tannhauser, Parsifal / Orchestra Of The Hungarian Radio And Television, Conducted by Antal Jancsovics / Hungaroton LP Stereo / LPX 11463

    $77.77
    Wagner - Ouvertures / Die Meistersinger Von Nürnberg, Faust, Tannhauser, Parsifal / Orchestra Of The Hungarian Radio And Television, Conducted by Antal Jancsovics / Hungaroton LP Stereo LPX 11463   Wilhelm Richard Wagner (/ˈvɑːɡnər/...
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  • Wagner - Parsifal - Ferencsik János / Molnár András, Kasza Katalin, Polgar Laszlo, Sólyom-Nagy Sándor, Faragó András / A Magyar Allami Operahaz eloadasa / Hungaroton 5x LP 1985 Stereo / SLPX 12784-88 Wagner - Parsifal - Ferencsik János / Molnár András, Kasza Katalin, Polgar Laszlo, Sólyom-Nagy Sándor, Faragó András / A Magyar Allami Operahaz eloadasa / Hungaroton 5x LP 1985 Stereo / SLPX 12784-88
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    Wagner - Parsifal - Ferencsik János / Molnár András, Kasza Katalin, Polgar Laszlo, Sólyom-Nagy Sándor, Faragó András / A Magyar Allami Operahaz eloadasa / Hungaroton 5x LP 1985 Stereo / SLPX 12784-88

    $77.77
    Wagner - Parsifal - Ferencsik János / Molnár András, Kasza Katalin, Polgar Laszlo, Sólyom-Nagy Sándor, Faragó András / A Magyar Allami Operahaz eloadasa / Hungaroton 5x LP 1985 Stereo SLPX...
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  • Richard Wagner: Rienzi / René Kollo, Siv Wennberg, Nikolaus Hillebrand, Janis Martin, Theo Adam, Siegfried Vogel, Peter Schreier, Günther Leib, Ingeborg Springer, Rundfunkchor Leipzig / ETERNA 5x LP Stereo / 8 26 658-662 Richard Wagner: Rienzi / René Kollo, Siv Wennberg, Nikolaus Hillebrand, Janis Martin, Theo Adam, Siegfried Vogel, Peter Schreier, Günther Leib, Ingeborg Springer, Rundfunkchor Leipzig / ETERNA 5x LP Stereo / 8 26 658-662
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    Richard Wagner: Rienzi / René Kollo, Siv Wennberg, Nikolaus Hillebrand, Janis Martin, Theo Adam, Siegfried Vogel, Peter Schreier, Günther Leib, Ingeborg Springer, Rundfunkchor Leipzig / ETERNA 5x LP Stereo / 8 26 658-662

    $77.77
    Richard Wagner: Rienzi / René Kollo, Siv Wennberg, Nikolaus Hillebrand, Janis Martin, Theo Adam, Siegfried Vogel, Peter Schreier, Günther Leib, Ingeborg Springer, Rundfunkchor Leipzig / ETERNA 5x LP Stereo 8 26 658-662   Rienzi, der...
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  • Richard Wagner - Tannhäuser / Hans Hopf, Elisabeth Grümmer, Gottlob Frick, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, Fritz Wunderlich, Marianne Schech u.a. / Chor Der Deutschen Staatsoper Berlin, Staatskapelle Berlin / ETERNA 4x LP Stereo / 8 25 217-220 Richard Wagner - Tannhäuser / Hans Hopf, Elisabeth Grümmer, Gottlob Frick, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, Fritz Wunderlich, Marianne Schech u.a. / Chor Der Deutschen Staatsoper Berlin, Staatskapelle Berlin / ETERNA 4x LP Stereo / 8 25 217-220
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    Richard Wagner - Tannhäuser / Hans Hopf, Elisabeth Grümmer, Gottlob Frick, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, Fritz Wunderlich, Marianne Schech u.a. / Chor Der Deutschen Staatsoper Berlin, Staatskapelle Berlin / ETERNA 4x LP Stereo / 8 25 217-220

    $77.77
    Richard Wagner - Tannhäuser / Hans Hopf, Elisabeth Grümmer, Gottlob Frick, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, Fritz Wunderlich, Marianne Schech u.a. / Chor Der Deutschen Staatsoper Berlin, Staatskapelle Berlin / ETERNA 4x LP Stereo 8 25...
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  • Dvořák – Requiem / Maria Stader (sopran), Sieglinde Wagner (alt), Ernst Haefliger (tenor), Kim Borg (bass) / Tschechische Philharmonie, Dirigent: Karel Ančerl / Supraphon 2x LP Stereo / 50 057/8 Dvořák – Requiem / Maria Stader (sopran), Sieglinde Wagner (alt), Ernst Haefliger (tenor), Kim Borg (bass) / Tschechische Philharmonie, Dirigent: Karel Ančerl / Supraphon 2x LP Stereo / 50 057/8
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    Dvořák – Requiem / Maria Stader (sopran), Sieglinde Wagner (alt), Ernst Haefliger (tenor), Kim Borg (bass) / Tschechische Philharmonie, Dirigent: Karel Ančerl / Supraphon 2x LP Stereo / 50 057/8

    $77.77
    Dvořák – Requiem / Maria Stader (sopran), Sieglinde Wagner (alt), Ernst Haefliger (tenor), Kim Borg (bass) / Tschechische Philharmonie, Dirigent: Karel Ančerl / Supraphon 2x LP Stereo  50 057/8   Antonín Dvořák's...
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  • Anton Bruckner: Symphony No. 7 In E Major, Richard Wagner: Götterdämmerung (Suite) / Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, Conductor: Lovro Von Matačić / Supraphon 2x LP Stereo / 50 809/10 Anton Bruckner: Symphony No. 7 In E Major, Richard Wagner: Götterdämmerung (Suite) / Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, Conductor: Lovro Von Matačić / Supraphon 2x LP Stereo / 50 809/10
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    Anton Bruckner: Symphony No. 7 In E Major, Richard Wagner: Götterdämmerung (Suite) / Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, Conductor: Lovro Von Matačić / Supraphon 2x LP Stereo / 50 809/10

    $77.77
    Anton Bruckner: Symphony No. 7 In E Major, Richard Wagner: Götterdämmerung (Suite) / Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, Conductor: Lovro Von Matačić / Supraphon 2x LP Stereo 50 809/10   Anton Bruckner's Symphony No. 7 in E major, WAB 107, is...
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  • Wagner – Götterdämmerung / Decca 6x LP 1965 Stereo / SET 292-7 Wagner – Götterdämmerung / Decca 6x LP 1965 Stereo / SET 292-7
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    Wagner – Götterdämmerung / Decca 6x LP 1965 Stereo / SET 292-7

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    Wagner – Götterdämmerung / Decca 6x LP 1965 Stereo SET 292-7   Götterdämmerung (German: [ˈɡœtɐˌdɛməʁʊŋ]; Twilight of the Gods), WWV 86D, is the last in Richard Wagner's cycle of four music dramas titled Der Ring...
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  • Wagner - Tristan Und Isolde / Birgit Nilsson, Fritz Uhl, Regina Resnik, Tom Krause, Arnold van Mill / Georg Solti Conducting The Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra / Decca 5x LP 1961 Stereo / SET 204-8 Wagner - Tristan Und Isolde / Birgit Nilsson, Fritz Uhl, Regina Resnik, Tom Krause, Arnold van Mill / Georg Solti Conducting The Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra / Decca 5x LP 1961 Stereo / SET 204-8
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    Wagner - Tristan Und Isolde / Birgit Nilsson, Fritz Uhl, Regina Resnik, Tom Krause, Arnold van Mill / Georg Solti Conducting The Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra / Decca 5x LP 1961 Stereo / SET 204-8

    DECCA
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    Wagner - Tristan Und Isolde / Birgit Nilsson, Fritz Uhl, Regina Resnik, Tom Krause, Arnold van Mill / Georg Solti Conducting The Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra / Decca 5x LP 1961 Stereo SET 204-8   Tristan und Isolde (Tristan and Isolde), WWV 90,...
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  • Wagner – Siegfried / Windgassen, Nilsson, Hotter, Stolze, Neidlinger and Joan Sutherland / Wienna Philharmonic, Solti / Decca 5x LP 1963 Stereo / SET 242/6 Wagner – Siegfried / Windgassen, Nilsson, Hotter, Stolze, Neidlinger and Joan Sutherland / Wienna Philharmonic, Solti / Decca 5x LP 1963 Stereo / SET 242/6
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    Wagner – Siegfried / Windgassen, Nilsson, Hotter, Stolze, Neidlinger and Joan Sutherland / Wienna Philharmonic, Solti / Decca 5x LP 1963 Stereo / SET 242/6

    DECCA
    $77.77
    Wagner – Siegfried / Windgassen, Nilsson, Hotter, Stolze, Neidlinger and Joan Sutherland / Wienna Philharmonic, Solti / Decca 5x LP 1963 Stereo SET 242/6   Siegfried (German: [/ˈziːk.fʀiːt/]), WWV 86C, is the third of the four music dramas...
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