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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 ‎– Parsifal / Waltraud Meier, Siegfried Jerusalem, Matthias Hölle, José van Dam, Günter von Kannen, John Tomlinson / Chor Der Staatsoper Berlin, Berliner Philharmoniker, Daniel Barenboim / Warner Classics ‎4x Audio CD 2016 / 0825646426331 Wagner ‎– Parsifal / Waltraud Meier, Siegfried Jerusalem, Matthias Hölle, José van Dam, Günter von Kannen, John Tomlinson / Chor Der Staatsoper Berlin, Berliner Philharmoniker, Daniel Barenboim / Warner Classics ‎4x Audio CD 2016 / 0825646426331
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    Wagner ‎– Parsifal / Waltraud Meier, Siegfried Jerusalem, Matthias Hölle, José van Dam, Günter von Kannen, John Tomlinson / Chor Der Staatsoper Berlin, Berliner Philharmoniker, Daniel Barenboim / Warner Classics ‎4x Audio CD 2016 / 0825646426331

    Warner Music Group Corp.
    $29.99
    Wagner ‎– Parsifal / Waltraud Meier, Siegfried Jerusalem, Matthias Hölle, José van Dam, Günter von Kannen, John Tomlinson / Chor Der Staatsoper Berlin, Berliner Philharmoniker, Daniel Barenboim / Warner Classics ‎4x Audio...
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  • R. Wagner - Der Ring des Nibelungen 8 DVD SET Bayreuther Festspiele / Pierre Boulez / Directed by Brian Large / Patrice Chéreau's Centenary Production / Bonus - Making of the Ring documentary (044007340578) R. Wagner - Der Ring des Nibelungen 8 DVD SET Bayreuther Festspiele / Pierre Boulez / Directed by Brian Large / Patrice Chéreau's Centenary Production / Bonus - Making of the Ring documentary (044007340578)
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    R. Wagner - Der Ring des Nibelungen 8 DVD SET Bayreuther Festspiele / Pierre Boulez / Directed by Brian Large / Patrice Chéreau's Centenary Production / Bonus - Making of the Ring documentary

    $154.10
    R. Wagner - Der Ring des Nibelungen 8 DVD SET 1980 Bayreuther Festspiele / Pierre Boulez / Directed by Brian Large / Patrice Chéreau's Centenary Production / Bonus - Making of the Ring documentary  / Deutsche Grammophon UPC...
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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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  • Xaver Varnus - the great organ of Matthias Church in Budapest / Wagner, Boellmann, Widor, Daquin, Elgar & Improvisations / Aquincum Archive Audio CD 1998 / ACD 1441 Xaver Varnus - the great organ of Matthias Church in Budapest / Wagner, Boellmann, Widor, Daquin, Elgar & Improvisations / Aquincum Archive Audio CD 1998 / ACD 1441
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    Xaver Varnus - the great organ of Matthias Church in Budapest / Wagner, Boellmann, Widor, Daquin, Elgar & Improvisations / Aquincum Archive Audio CD 1998 / ACD 1441

    $45.99
    Xaver Varnus - the great organ of Matthias Church in Budapest / Wagner, Boellmann, Widor, Daquin, Elgar & Improvisations / Aquincum Archive Audio CD 1998 ACD 1441 Made in Hungary  UPC 5998133189868 Xaver Varnus, ungarisch Xavér Varnus...
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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
    $74.99
    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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  • Richard Wagner – Siegfried / Berliner Philharmoniker, Herbert von Karajan ‎/ Deutsche Grammophon ‎4x Audio CD Stereo / 457 790-2 Richard Wagner – Siegfried / Berliner Philharmoniker, Herbert von Karajan ‎/ Deutsche Grammophon ‎4x Audio CD Stereo / 457 790-2
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    Richard Wagner – Siegfried / Berliner Philharmoniker, Herbert von Karajan ‎/ Deutsche Grammophon ‎4x Audio CD Stereo / 457 790-2

    Deutsche Grammophon
    $99.99
    Richard Wagner – Siegfried / Berliner Philharmoniker, Herbert von Karajan ‎/ Deutsche Grammophon ‎4x Audio CD Stereo / 457 790-2 UPC 028945779027   Label: Deutsche Grammophon ‎– 457 790-2 Series: The Originals Format: 4...
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  • Wagner - Der Ring des Nibelungen & "Wagner's Dream" 8xDVD SET The Metropolitan Opera / James Levine, Fabio Luisi / Directed by Gary Halvorson / Produced by Robert Lepage / Das Rheingold, Die Walküre, Siegfried, Götterdämmerung (044007347706) Wagner - Der Ring des Nibelungen & "Wagner's Dream" 8xDVD SET The Metropolitan Opera / James Levine, Fabio Luisi / Directed by Gary Halvorson / Produced by Robert Lepage / Das Rheingold, Die Walküre, Siegfried, Götterdämmerung (044007347706)
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    Wagner - Der Ring des Nibelungen & "Wagner's Dream" 8xDVD SET The Metropolitan Opera / James Levine, Fabio Luisi / Directed by Gary Halvorson / Produced by Robert Lepage / Das Rheingold, Die Walküre, Siegfried, Götterdämmerung

    $349.99
    Wagner - Der Ring des Nibelungen & "Wagner's Dream" 8xDVD SET 2012 The Metropolitan Opera / James Levine, Fabio Luisi / Directed by Gary Halvorson / Produced by Robert Lepage / Das Rheingold, Die Walküre, Siegfried, Götterdämmerung /...
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  • Richard Wagner - Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg 2x DVD / Directed by Karl Kamper, Götz Friedrich, Brian Large / Chorus and Orchestra of the Deutche Oper Berlin / Conducted by Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos / Eva Johansson, Wolfgang Brendel, Gösta Winbergh (4006680101521) Richard Wagner - Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg 2x DVD / Directed by Karl Kamper, Götz Friedrich, Brian Large / Chorus and Orchestra of the Deutche Oper Berlin / Conducted by Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos / Eva Johansson, Wolfgang Brendel, Gösta Winbergh (4006680101521)
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    Richard Wagner - Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg 2x DVD / Directed by Karl Kamper, Götz Friedrich, Brian Large / Chorus and Orchestra of the Deutche Oper Berlin / Conducted by Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos / Eva Johansson, Wolfgang Brendel

    $59.91
    Richard Wagner - Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg 2x DVD / Directed by Karl Kamper, Götz Friedrich, Brian Large / Chorus and Orchestra of the Deutche Oper Berlin / Conducted by Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos / Eva Johansson, Wolfgang Brendel,...
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  • Richard Wagner - Tannhäuser (Bayerische Staatsoper, 1994) - DVD (4006680100142) Richard Wagner - Tannhäuser (Bayerische Staatsoper, 1994) - DVD (4006680100142)
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    Richard Wagner - Tannhäuser (Bayerische Staatsoper, 1994) - DVD

    $35.91
    Richard Wagner - Tannhäuser (Bayerische Staatsoper, 1994) - DVD UPC: 4006680100142 Product Features Title: Richard Wagner - Tannhäuser Conductor: Zubin Mehta Director: David Alden Chorus Master: Udo...
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  • Stokowski - Maestro Celebre - Wagner / History 2x Audio CD 2001 / 2032921-303 Stokowski - Maestro Celebre - Wagner / History 2x Audio CD 2001 / 2032921-303
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    Stokowski - Maestro Celebre - Wagner / History 2x Audio CD 2001 / 2032921-303

    $24.99
    Stokowski - Maestro Celebre - Wagner / History 2x Audio CD 2001 / 2032921-303 UPC 4011222032928   Label: History ‎– 2032921-303 Format: 2 × CD, Compilation, Remastered Released: 2001 Genre:...
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  • Nighthawks DVD 1981 Fantom az Éjszakában / Directed by Bruce Malmuth / Starring: Sylvester Stallone, Billy Dee Williams, Lindsay Wagner, Persis Khambatta (5998133188731) Nighthawks DVD 1981 Fantom az Éjszakában / Directed by Bruce Malmuth / Starring: Sylvester Stallone, Billy Dee Williams, Lindsay Wagner, Persis Khambatta (5998133188731)
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    Nighthawks DVD 1981 Fantom az Éjszakában - Directed by Bruce Malmuth

    $15.99
    "Nighthawks" | DVD Product Information UPC: 5998133188731 Product Type: DVD Genre: Action/Thriller Region: 2 PAL DVD Made in: EU Audio Options: English 2.0 Hungarian 2.0 Subtitles: Hungarian Total...
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  • Robert Schumann - Most beautiful melodies DVD 2003 / Classicgold collection / Performed by Wolfgang van Eyck / Art Media (8716718715625) Robert Schumann - Most beautiful melodies DVD 2003 / Classicgold collection / Performed by Wolfgang van Eyck / Art Media (8716718715625)
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    Robert Schumann - Most beautiful melodies DVD 2003 / Classicgold collection / Performed by Wolfgang van Eyck / Art Media

    $15.99
    Robert Schumann - Most beautiful melodies DVD 2003 / Classicgold collection / Performed by Wolfgang van Eyck / Art Media UPC 8716718715625 REGION 0 PAL DVD  MADE IN EU AUDIO: Dolby Digital 2.0 Total Runtime: 45 minutes   English...
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