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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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  • Simon Estes in Opernszenen von Richard Wagner - Staatskapelle Berlin, Heinz Fricke / ETERNA LP Stereo 1985 / 725 005 Simon Estes in Opernszenen von Richard Wagner - Staatskapelle Berlin, Heinz Fricke / ETERNA LP Stereo 1985 / 725 005
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    Simon Estes in Opernszenen von Richard Wagner - Staatskapelle Berlin, Heinz Fricke / ETERNA LP Stereo 1985 / 725 005

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    Simon Estes in Opernszenen von Richard Wagner - Staatskapelle Berlin, Heinz Fricke / ETERNA LP Stereo 1985  725 005   Label: ETERNA – 725 005 Format: Vinyl, LP, Album, Stereo Country: German Democratic Republic...
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  • Max Lorenz Singt Aus Opern Von Richard Wagner / Die Großen Ihrer Zeit / Deutsche Grammophon LP / LPEM 19 259 Max Lorenz Singt Aus Opern Von Richard Wagner / Die Großen Ihrer Zeit / Deutsche Grammophon LP / LPEM 19 259
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    Max Lorenz Singt Aus Opern Von Richard Wagner / Die Großen Ihrer Zeit / Deutsche Grammophon LP / LPEM 19 259

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    Max Lorenz Singt Aus Opern Von Richard Wagner / Die Großen Ihrer Zeit / Deutsche Grammophon LP LPEM 19 259   Label: Deutsche Grammophon – LPEM 19 259 Series: Die Großen Ihrer Zeit Format: Vinyl, LP,...
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  • Richard Wagner: Tannhäuser (Querschnitt) - Leonie Rysanek, Wolfgang Windgassen, Eberhard Waechter, Josef Greindl, Dirigent: Ferdinand Leitner / Deutsche Grammophon LP / LPEM 19 069 Richard Wagner: Tannhäuser (Querschnitt) - Leonie Rysanek, Wolfgang Windgassen, Eberhard Waechter, Josef Greindl, Dirigent: Ferdinand Leitner / Deutsche Grammophon LP / LPEM 19 069
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    Richard Wagner: Tannhäuser (Querschnitt) - Leonie Rysanek, Wolfgang Windgassen, Eberhard Waechter, Josef Greindl, Dirigent: Ferdinand Leitner / Deutsche Grammophon LP / LPEM 19 069

    $77.77
    Richard Wagner: Tannhäuser (Querschnitt) - Leonie Rysanek, Wolfgang Windgassen, Eberhard Waechter, Josef Greindl, Dirigent: Ferdinand Leitner / Deutsche Grammophon LP LPEM 19 069   Label: Deutsche Grammophon – LPEM 19...
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  • Richard Wagner: Operatic Overtures - Tannhäuser; Die Meistersinger; The Flying Dutchman; Tristan And Isolde / Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, Conductor: Franz Konwitschny / Supraphon LP / SUA 10134 Richard Wagner: Operatic Overtures - Tannhäuser; Die Meistersinger; The Flying Dutchman; Tristan And Isolde / Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, Conductor: Franz Konwitschny / Supraphon LP / SUA 10134
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    Richard Wagner: Operatic Overtures - Tannhäuser; Die Meistersinger; The Flying Dutchman; Tristan And Isolde / Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, Conductor: Franz Konwitschny / Supraphon LP / SUA 10134

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    Richard Wagner: Operatic Overtures - Tannhäuser; Die Meistersinger; The Flying Dutchman; Tristan And Isolde / Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, Conductor: Franz Konwitschny / Supraphon LP  SUA 10134   Label: Supraphon – SUA...
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  • Magyar Előadóművészek (Hungarian Artists) Legszebb Wagner Felvételei / Hungaroton 2x LP, Mono 1983 / SLPX 12594-95 Magyar Előadóművészek (Hungarian Artists) Legszebb Wagner Felvételei / Hungaroton 2x LP, Mono 1983 / SLPX 12594-95
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    Magyar Előadóművészek (Hungarian Artists) Legszebb Wagner Felvételei / Hungaroton 2x LP, Mono 1983 / SLPX 12594-95

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    Magyar Előadóművészek (Hungarian Artists) Legszebb Wagner Felvételei / Hungaroton 2x LP, Mono 1983 SLPX 12594-95   Label: Hungaroton – SLPX 12594-95 Series: Magyar Előadóművészek Format: 2 x...
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  • Wolfgang Windgassen Singt Wagner - Rienzi, Tristan und Isolde, Siegfried, Gotterdammerung, Parsifal, Lohengrin, Tannhauser / Heliodor LP / 2548 156 Wolfgang Windgassen Singt Wagner - Rienzi, Tristan und Isolde, Siegfried, Gotterdammerung, Parsifal, Lohengrin, Tannhauser / Heliodor LP / 2548 156
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    Wolfgang Windgassen Singt Wagner - Rienzi, Tristan und Isolde, Siegfried, Gotterdammerung, Parsifal, Lohengrin, Tannhauser / Heliodor LP / 2548 156

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    Wolfgang Windgassen Singt Wagner - Rienzi, Tristan und Isolde, Siegfried, Gotterdammerung, Parsifal, Lohengrin, Tannhauser / Heliodor LP  2548 156   Label: Heliodor – 2548 156 Format: Vinyl, LP,...
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  • Richard Wagner – Weltstars Singen / Victoria De Los Angeles, Birgit Nilsson, Elisabeth Grümmer, Marga Höffgen, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, Gottlob Frick, Hermann Prey, Jess Thomas, Fritz Wunderlich / HÖR ZU LP Stereo / SHZE 154 Richard Wagner – Weltstars Singen / Victoria De Los Angeles, Birgit Nilsson, Elisabeth Grümmer, Marga Höffgen, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, Gottlob Frick, Hermann Prey, Jess Thomas, Fritz Wunderlich / HÖR ZU LP Stereo / SHZE 154
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    Richard Wagner – Weltstars Singen / Victoria De Los Angeles, Birgit Nilsson, Elisabeth Grümmer, Marga Höffgen, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, Gottlob Frick, Hermann Prey, Jess Thomas, Fritz Wunderlich / HÖR ZU LP Stereo / SHZE 154

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    Richard Wagner – Weltstars Singen / Victoria De Los Angeles, Birgit Nilsson, Elisabeth Grümmer, Marga Höffgen, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, Gottlob Frick, Hermann Prey, Jess Thomas, Fritz Wunderlich / HÖR ZU LP Stereo  SHZE...
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  • Wagner: Lohengrin Highlights - Jess Thomas, Elisabeth Grümmer, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, Christa Ludwig, Gottlob Frick, Otto Wiener, Vienna State Opera Chorus, Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, Rudolf Kempe / Angel Stereo LP / 36313 Wagner: Lohengrin Highlights - Jess Thomas, Elisabeth Grümmer, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, Christa Ludwig, Gottlob Frick, Otto Wiener, Vienna State Opera Chorus, Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, Rudolf Kempe / Angel Stereo LP / 36313
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    Wagner: Lohengrin Highlights - Jess Thomas, Elisabeth Grümmer, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, Christa Ludwig, Gottlob Frick, Otto Wiener, Vienna State Opera Chorus, Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, Rudolf Kempe / Angel Stereo LP / 36313

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    Wagner: Lohengrin Highlights - Jess Thomas, Elisabeth Grümmer, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, Christa Ludwig, Gottlob Frick, Otto Wiener, Vienna State Opera Chorus, Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, Rudolf Kempe / Angel Stereo...
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  • Richard Wagner: Lohengrin (Pagine Scelte) - Wolfgang Windgassen, Birgit Nilsson, Orchestra E Coro Del Festival Di Bayreuth, Eugen Jochum / Registrazione dal vivo / I Gioielli Della Lirica – 20 / Longanesi Periodici LP / GML - 20 Richard Wagner: Lohengrin (Pagine Scelte) - Wolfgang Windgassen, Birgit Nilsson, Orchestra E Coro Del Festival Di Bayreuth, Eugen Jochum / Registrazione dal vivo / I Gioielli Della Lirica – 20 / Longanesi Periodici LP / GML - 20
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    Richard Wagner: Lohengrin (Pagine Scelte) - Wolfgang Windgassen, Birgit Nilsson, Orchestra E Coro Del Festival Di Bayreuth, Eugen Jochum / Registrazione dal vivo / I Gioielli Della Lirica – 20 / Longanesi Periodici LP / GML - 20

    $77.77
    Richard Wagner: Lohengrin (Pagine Scelte) - Wolfgang Windgassen, Birgit Nilsson, Orchestra E Coro Del Festival Di Bayreuth, Eugen Jochum / Registrazione dal vivo / I Gioielli Della Lirica – 20 / Longanesi Periodici LP  GML -...
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  • Weltstars Singen Wagner / Victoria De Los Angeles, Birgit Nilsson, Elisabeth Grümmer, Marga Höffgen, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, Gottlob Frick, Hermann Prey, Jess Thomas, Fritz Wunderlich, Rudolf Schock / EMI LP Stereo / SME 80 949 Weltstars Singen Wagner / Victoria De Los Angeles, Birgit Nilsson, Elisabeth Grümmer, Marga Höffgen, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, Gottlob Frick, Hermann Prey, Jess Thomas, Fritz Wunderlich, Rudolf Schock / EMI LP Stereo / SME 80 949
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    Weltstars Singen Wagner / Victoria De Los Angeles, Birgit Nilsson, Elisabeth Grümmer, Marga Höffgen, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, Gottlob Frick, Hermann Prey, Jess Thomas, Fritz Wunderlich, Rudolf Schock / EMI LP Stereo / SME 80 949

    $77.77
    Weltstars Singen Wagner / Victoria De Los Angeles, Birgit Nilsson, Elisabeth Grümmer, Marga Höffgen, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, Gottlob Frick, Hermann Prey, Jess Thomas, Fritz Wunderlich, Rudolf Schock / EMI LP Stereo SME 80...
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  • Richard Wagner: Walküre (Ausgewählte Szenen) - Leonie Rysanek, Martha Mödl (sopran), Ludwig Suthaus (tenor), Ferdinand Frantz (bariton), Wiener Philharmoniker, Dirigent: Wilhelm Furtwängler / ETERNA LP 1965 / 8 20 510 Richard Wagner: Walküre (Ausgewählte Szenen) - Leonie Rysanek, Martha Mödl (sopran), Ludwig Suthaus (tenor), Ferdinand Frantz (bariton), Wiener Philharmoniker, Dirigent: Wilhelm Furtwängler / ETERNA LP 1965 / 8 20 510
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    Richard Wagner: Walküre (Ausgewählte Szenen) - Leonie Rysanek, Martha Mödl (sopran), Ludwig Suthaus (tenor), Ferdinand Frantz (bariton), Wiener Philharmoniker, Dirigent: Wilhelm Furtwängler / ETERNA LP 1965 / 8 20 510

    $77.77
    Richard Wagner: Walküre (Ausgewählte Szenen) - Leonie Rysanek, Martha Mödl (sopran), Ludwig Suthaus (tenor), Ferdinand Frantz (bariton), Wiener Philharmoniker, Dirigent: Wilhelm Furtwängler / ETERNA LP 1965 8 20...
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  • Richard Wagner: Lohengrin (Hohepunkte Der Oper) - Margarete Klose, Maria Muller, Franz Volker, Jaro Prohaska, Ludwig Hofmann, Chor und Orchester Der Staatsoper Berlin, Dirigent: Robert Heger / BASF 2x LP / 22 21996-8 Richard Wagner: Lohengrin (Hohepunkte Der Oper) - Margarete Klose, Maria Muller, Franz Volker, Jaro Prohaska, Ludwig Hofmann, Chor und Orchester Der Staatsoper Berlin, Dirigent: Robert Heger / BASF 2x LP / 22 21996-8
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    Richard Wagner: Lohengrin – Höhpunkte der Oper

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    Richard Wagner: Lohengrin – Höhpunkte der Oper UPC: 22 21996-8 Product Details Richard Wagner: Lohengrin – Höhpunkte der Oper features highlights from Wagner’s romantic opera Lohengrin, recorded in 1942. This...
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