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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: Lohengrin - Steber, Windgassen, Varnay, Uhde, Bayreuth Festival Orchestra, Keilberth / Richmond 5x LP, Box Set, Mono / RS 65003 Wagner: Lohengrin - Steber, Windgassen, Varnay, Uhde, Bayreuth Festival Orchestra, Keilberth / Richmond 5x LP, Box Set, Mono / RS 65003
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    Wagner: Lohengrin - Steber, Windgassen, Varnay, Uhde, Bayreuth Festival Orchestra, Keilberth / Richmond 5x LP, Box Set, Mono / RS 65003

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    Wagner: Lohengrin - Steber, Windgassen, Varnay, Uhde, Bayreuth Festival Orchestra, Keilberth / Richmond 5x LP, Box Set, Mono  RS 65003   Label: Richmond – RS 65003 Format: 5 x Vinyl, LP, Album, Mono, Box...
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  • Toscanini - Helen Traubel, Lauritz Melchior: Great Scenes from Wagner - NBC Symphony Orchestra / Immortal Performances / RCA Victrola LP Mono 1968 / VIC-1369 Toscanini - Helen Traubel, Lauritz Melchior: Great Scenes from Wagner - NBC Symphony Orchestra / Immortal Performances / RCA Victrola LP Mono 1968 / VIC-1369
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    Toscanini - Helen Traubel, Lauritz Melchior: Great Scenes from Wagner - NBC Symphony Orchestra / Immortal Performances / RCA Victrola LP Mono 1968 / VIC-1369

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    Toscanini - Helen Traubel, Lauritz Melchior: Great Scenes from Wagner - NBC Symphony Orchestra / Immortal Performances / RCA Victrola LP Mono 1968 VIC-1369   Label: RCA Victrola – VIC-1369 Series: Immortal...
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  • Richard Wagner: Tannhäuser (Pariser Fassung) / René Kollo, Helga Dernesch, Christa Ludwig, Victor Braun, Hans Sotin, Wiener Philharmoniker / Oper Der Welt / Decca 1971 Stereo / 6.41850 AN Richard Wagner: Tannhäuser (Pariser Fassung) / René Kollo, Helga Dernesch, Christa Ludwig, Victor Braun, Hans Sotin, Wiener Philharmoniker / Oper Der Welt / Decca 1971 Stereo / 6.41850 AN
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    Richard Wagner: Tannhäuser (Pariser Fassung) / René Kollo, Helga Dernesch, Christa Ludwig, Victor Braun, Hans Sotin, Wiener Philharmoniker / Oper Der Welt / Decca 1971 Stereo / 6.41850 AN

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    Richard Wagner: Tannhäuser (Pariser Fassung) / René Kollo, Helga Dernesch, Christa Ludwig, Victor Braun, Hans Sotin, Wiener Philharmoniker / Oper Der Welt / Decca 1971 Stereo  6.41850 AN   Label: Decca – 6.41850...
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  • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Messe C-dur KV 317 (Krönungsmesse) - Maria Stader (sopran), Sieglinde Wagner (alt), Helmut Krebs (tenor), Josef Greindl (bass), Chor der St. Hedwigs-Kathedrale / Deutsche Grammophon LP / 16 096 LP Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Messe C-dur KV 317 (Krönungsmesse) - Maria Stader (sopran), Sieglinde Wagner (alt), Helmut Krebs (tenor), Josef Greindl (bass), Chor der St. Hedwigs-Kathedrale / Deutsche Grammophon LP / 16 096 LP
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    Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Messe C-dur KV 317 (Krönungsmesse) - Maria Stader (sopran), Sieglinde Wagner (alt), Helmut Krebs (tenor), Josef Greindl (bass), Chor der St. Hedwigs-Kathedrale / Deutsche Grammophon LP / 16 096 LP

    $77.77
    Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Messe C-dur KV 317 (Krönungsmesse) - Maria Stader (sopran), Sieglinde Wagner (alt), Helmut Krebs (tenor), Josef Greindl (bass), Chor der St. Hedwigs-Kathedrale / Deutsche Grammophon LP  16 096...
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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: Der Ring Des Nibelungen -The Metropolitan Opera Orchestra And Chorus, James Levine / Collectors Edition / Deutsche Grammophon 14x Audio CD, Stereo, Box Set / 471 678-2 Wagner: Der Ring Des Nibelungen -The Metropolitan Opera Orchestra And Chorus, James Levine / Collectors Edition / Deutsche Grammophon 14x Audio CD, Stereo, Box Set / 471 678-2
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    Wagner: Der Ring Des Nibelungen -The Metropolitan Opera Orchestra And Chorus, James Levine / Collectors Edition / Deutsche Grammophon 14x Audio CD, Stereo, Box Set / 471 678-2

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    Wagner: Der Ring Des Nibelungen -The Metropolitan Opera Orchestra And Chorus, James Levine / Collectors Edition / Deutsche Grammophon 14x Audio CD, Stereo, Box Set / 471 678-2 UPC 028947167822   Der Ring des Nibelungen (The Ring of the...
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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

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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 UPC 028947842156   Wilhelm Richard...
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