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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 - Die Walküre / Nilsson, Hotter, Crespin, King, Ludwig, Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, Solti / Decca 5x LP 1965 Stereo / SET 312-6 Wagner - Die Walküre / Nilsson, Hotter, Crespin, King, Ludwig, Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, Solti / Decca 5x LP 1965 Stereo / SET 312-6
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    Wagner - Die Walküre / Nilsson, Hotter, Crespin, King, Ludwig, Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, Solti / Decca 5x LP 1965 Stereo / SET 312-6

    $77.77
    Wagner - Die Walküre / Nilsson, Hotter, Crespin, King, Ludwig, Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, Solti / Decca 5x LP 1965 Stereo SET 312-6   Die Walküre (The Valkyrie), WWV 86B, is the second of the four music dramas that constitute...
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  • Wagner - Lohengrin / Wolfgang Windgassen, Astrid Varnay, Josef Greindl, Eleanor Steber, Hermann Uhde, Joseph Keilberth / Hungaroton 5x LP Mono / LPXL 12962-66 Wagner - Lohengrin / Wolfgang Windgassen, Astrid Varnay, Josef Greindl, Eleanor Steber, Hermann Uhde, Joseph Keilberth / Hungaroton 5x LP Mono / LPXL 12962-66
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    Wagner - Lohengrin / Wolfgang Windgassen, Astrid Varnay, Josef Greindl, Eleanor Steber, Hermann Uhde, Joseph Keilberth / Hungaroton 5x LP Mono / LPXL 12962-66

    $77.77
    Wagner - Lohengrin / Wolfgang Windgassen, Astrid Varnay, Josef Greindl, Eleanor Steber, Hermann Uhde, Joseph Keilberth / Hungaroton 5x LP Mono LPXL 12962-66   Label: Hungaroton – LPXL 12962-66 Format: 5 x Vinyl, LP, Mono, Box...
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  • Wagner - Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg / Norman Bailey, Rene Kollo, Hannelore Bode, Julia Hamari, Bernd Weikl, Kurt Moll, Vienna State Opera Chorus / Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, Sir Georg Solti / Decca 5x LP Stereo / D13D 5 Wagner - Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg / Norman Bailey, Rene Kollo, Hannelore Bode, Julia Hamari, Bernd Weikl, Kurt Moll, Vienna State Opera Chorus / Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, Sir Georg Solti / Decca 5x LP Stereo / D13D 5
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    Wagner - Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg / Norman Bailey, Rene Kollo, Hannelore Bode, Julia Hamari, Bernd Weikl, Kurt Moll, Vienna State Opera Chorus / Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, Sir Georg Solti / Decca 5x LP Stereo / D13D 5

    $77.77
    Wagner - Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg / Norman Bailey, Rene Kollo, Hannelore Bode, Julia Hamari, Bernd Weikl, Kurt Moll, Vienna State Opera Chorus / Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, Sir Georg Solti / Decca 5x LP Stereo D13D 5   Label:...
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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 5x LP Stereo / SET 550-4 Wagner: Parsifal / René Kollo, Gottlob Frick, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, Christa Ludwig, Zoltan Kélémen, Hans Hotter / Vienna Philharmonic, Sir Georg Solti / Decca 5x LP Stereo / SET 550-4
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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 5x LP Stereo / SET 550-4

    $77.77
    Wagner: Parsifal / René Kollo, Gottlob Frick, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, Christa Ludwig, Zoltan Kélémen, Hans Hotter / Vienna Philharmonic, Sir Georg Solti / Decca 5x LP Stereo SET 550-4   Parsifal (WWV 111) is an opera in...
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  • Richard Wagner – Der Ring Des Nibelungen - Furtwangler / The Intense Media 13x Audio CD / 600154 Richard Wagner – Der Ring Des Nibelungen - Furtwangler / The Intense Media 13x Audio CD / 600154
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    Richard Wagner – Der Ring Des Nibelungen - Furtwangler / The Intense Media 13x Audio CD / 600154

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    Richard Wagner – Der Ring Des Nibelungen - Furtwangler / The Intense Media 13x Audio CD / 600154 UPC 4053796001542   Der Ring des Nibelungen (The Ring of the Nibelung), WWV 86, is a cycle of four German-language epic music dramas composed...
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  • Richard Wagner – Lohengrin / Jess Thomas, Elisabeth Grümmer, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, Christa Ludwig, Gottlob Frick, Chor der Wiener Staatsoper / Wiener Philharmoniker, Rudolf Kempe / EMI Records 5x LP Stereo / 826 995-999 Richard Wagner – Lohengrin / Jess Thomas, Elisabeth Grümmer, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, Christa Ludwig, Gottlob Frick, Chor der Wiener Staatsoper / Wiener Philharmoniker, Rudolf Kempe / EMI Records 5x LP Stereo / 826 995-999
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    Richard Wagner – Lohengrin / Jess Thomas, Elisabeth Grümmer, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, Christa Ludwig, Gottlob Frick, Chor der Wiener Staatsoper / Wiener Philharmoniker, Rudolf Kempe / EMI Records 5x LP Stereo / 826 995-999

    EMI Group Limited
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    Richard Wagner – Lohengrin / Jess Thomas, Elisabeth Grümmer, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, Christa Ludwig, Gottlob Frick, Chor der Wiener Staatsoper / Wiener Philharmoniker, Rudolf Kempe / EMI Records 5x LP Stereo 826 995-999   A Lohengrin...
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  • Richard Wagner: Tannhäuser / Brigit Nilsson, Wolfgang Windgassen, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, Theo Adam, Chor Und Orchester Deutschen Oper Berlin, Otto Gerdes / Deutsche Grammophon 4x LP Stereo / 139 284/287 Richard Wagner: Tannhäuser / Brigit Nilsson, Wolfgang Windgassen, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, Theo Adam, Chor Und Orchester Deutschen Oper Berlin, Otto Gerdes / Deutsche Grammophon 4x LP Stereo / 139 284/287
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    Richard Wagner: Tannhäuser / Brigit Nilsson, Wolfgang Windgassen, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, Theo Adam, Chor Und Orchester Deutschen Oper Berlin, Otto Gerdes / Deutsche Grammophon 4x LP Stereo / 139 284/287

    Deutsche Grammophon
    $77.77
    Richard Wagner: Tannhäuser / Brigit Nilsson, Wolfgang Windgassen, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, Theo Adam, Chor Und Orchester Deutschen Oper Berlin, Otto Gerdes / Deutsche Grammophon 4x LP Stereo 139 284/287   Tannhäuser (German:...
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  • R. Wagner = Р. Вагнер - Парсифаль (Опера) / Мелодия 5x LP / 33Д 033809—18 R. Wagner = Р. Вагнер - Парсифаль (Опера) / Мелодия 5x LP / 33Д 033809—18
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    R. Wagner = Р. Вагнер - Парсифаль (Опера) / Мелодия 5x LP / 33Д 033809—18

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    R. Wagner = Р. Вагнер - Парсифаль (Опера) / Мелодия 5x LP 33Д 033809—18   «Па́рсифаль» (нем. Parsifal) — музыкальная драма Рихарда Вагнера (WWV 111) в 3 актах, на собственное либретто. Последняя опера композитора...
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  • Wagner: Tristan And Isolde / Kirsten Flagstad, Ludwig Suthaus, Blanche Thebom, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, Philharmonia Orchestra / Wilhelm Furtwängler / The Everyman Opera Series / His Master's Voice 5x LP Stereo / HQM 1001-1005 Wagner: Tristan And Isolde / Kirsten Flagstad, Ludwig Suthaus, Blanche Thebom, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, Philharmonia Orchestra / Wilhelm Furtwängler / The Everyman Opera Series / His Master's Voice 5x LP Stereo / HQM 1001-1005
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    Wagner: Tristan And Isolde / Kirsten Flagstad, Ludwig Suthaus, Blanche Thebom, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, Philharmonia Orchestra / Wilhelm Furtwängler / The Everyman Opera Series / His Master's Voice 5x LP Stereo / HQM 1001-1005

    $77.77
    Wagner: Tristan And Isolde / Kirsten Flagstad, Ludwig Suthaus, Blanche Thebom, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, Philharmonia Orchestra / Wilhelm Furtwängler / The Everyman Opera Series / His Master's Voice 5x LP Stereo HQM 1001-1005...
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  • Karajan, Wagner, Herbert von: Die Meistersinger Von Nürnberg / Elisabeth Schwarzkopf, Otto Edelmann, Erich Kunz, Hans Hopf, Gerhard Unger / Bayreuth Festival Chorus & Orchestra / EMI Records 5x LP 1952 Mono / RLS 7708 Karajan, Wagner, Herbert von: Die Meistersinger Von Nürnberg / Elisabeth Schwarzkopf, Otto Edelmann, Erich Kunz, Hans Hopf, Gerhard Unger / Bayreuth Festival Chorus & Orchestra / EMI Records 5x LP 1952 Mono / RLS 7708
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    Karajan, Wagner, Herbert von: Die Meistersinger Von Nürnberg / Elisabeth Schwarzkopf, Otto Edelmann, Erich Kunz, Hans Hopf, Gerhard Unger / Bayreuth Festival Chorus & Orchestra / EMI Records 5x LP 1952 Mono / RLS 7708

    EMI Group Limited
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    Karajan, Wagner, Herbert von: Die Meistersinger Von Nürnberg / Elisabeth Schwarzkopf, Otto Edelmann, Erich Kunz, Hans Hopf, Gerhard Unger / Bayreuth Festival Chorus & Orchestra / EMI Records 5x LP 1952 Mono RLS 7708  The Historic 1951...
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  • Wagner - Parsifal 2 DVD SET The Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, Chorus and Ballet / Directed by Barbara Willis Sweete / Production Francois Girard / Conducted by Daniele Gatti (888837255899) Wagner - Parsifal 2 DVD SET The Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, Chorus and Ballet / Directed by Barbara Willis Sweete / Production Francois Girard / Conducted by Daniele Gatti (888837255899)
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    Wagner - Parsifal 2 DVD SET The Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, Chorus and Ballet / Directed by Barbara Willis Sweete / Production Francois Girard / Conducted by Daniele Gatti

    $65.99
    Wagner - Parsifal 2 DVD SET The Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, Chorus and Ballet / Directed by Barbara Willis Sweete / Production Francois Girard / Conducted by Daniele Gatti UPC 888837255899 REGION 0 NTSC DVD (All regions) MADE IN the UK AUDIO: LPCM...
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  • Richard Wagner – Götterdämmerung / Berliner Philharmoniker, Herbert Von Karajan ‎/ The Originals / Deutsche Grammophon ‎4x Audio CD Stereo / 457 795-2 Richard Wagner – Götterdämmerung / Berliner Philharmoniker, Herbert Von Karajan ‎/ The Originals / Deutsche Grammophon ‎4x Audio CD Stereo / 457 795-2
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    Richard Wagner – Götterdämmerung / Berliner Philharmoniker, Herbert Von Karajan ‎/ The Originals / Deutsche Grammophon ‎4x Audio CD Stereo / 457 795-2

    Deutsche Grammophon
    $89.99
    Richard Wagner – Götterdämmerung / Berliner Philharmoniker, Herbert Von Karajan ‎/ The Originals / Deutsche Grammophon ‎4x Audio CD Stereo / 457 795-2 UPC 028945779522 Götterdämmerung (Twilight of the Gods), WWV 86D,...
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