Richard Wagner May 22,1813- February 13,1883

•Born in Leipzig, Germany•Early fascination with theatre•Age 14- began writing plays•Began studying composition•Wrote opera AND libretti!•1833-Worked as a chorus master and produced operas•1834- began working as a

music critic, director of Bethmann‘s theatre company

Richard Wagner May 22,1813- February 13,1883

• 1836 – married actress Minne Planner

• Held various jobs, fell into debt• Moved to London, Paris and

composed grand operas Rienzi, and The Flying Dutchman.

• Returned to Germany in 1842 when his operas were put on.

• Politically active and published writings. Had to flee to Switzerland avoid imprisonment.

Richard Wagner May 22,1813- February 13,1883

• In Switzerland, published famous articles including Jewry in Music

• Began composing a cycle of ‘Music dramas’ which became the “Ring Cycle” (took over 25 years)

• During this time, he also composed Tristan and Isolde, and Die Meistersinger von Nuremberg.

• Invented “Wagner Tuba”

• 1871- built Bayreuth opera house for himself

The Tristan Chord

The Ring of the Nibelung

• Das Rheingold (The Rhinegold) • Die Walküre (The Valkyrie) • Siegfried• Götterdämmerung (Twilight of the Gods)• Use of ‘leitmotif’ (a recurring musical theme,

associated with a particular person, place, or idea ) and concept of “Gesamtkunstwerk” (total artwork) which are new and unique to Wagner

• Symbolic story of desire for power. • 15 hours total