Richard Wagner 1813-1883

Wagner’s Life Born in Leipzig, Germany on May 22nd, 1813 Showed little aptitude for music, but wrote a play at 13 and then started music lessons. Created the “leitmotif” which is a musical part used to represent a character or theme in an opera. Hollywood uses this technique often. He is most well known for his epic operas and enormous orchestras. He also wrote his own libretto’s (words), which was rare at the time. A special theater had to be created to accommodate his large works. His most well known opera “The Ring Cycle” took 26 years to complete. Wagner died of a heart attack in February 1883 while in Venice, Italy. It is rumored it was because of an argument with his wife about his interest in another woman.

Wagner’s Controversies He was a well known anti-Semite and was said to be Hitler’s favorite composer. (Yikes!) He was exiled to Switzerland after being a part of an unsuccessful uprising with the socialist German nationalists (which later became the Nazi’s). He cheated on his wife, got divorced, remarried, and cheated even more. His wife attempted to burn all copies of his autobiography so people wouldn’t see his insulting remarks about his fellow composers. He was in debt most of his life until King Ludwig II wiped it all away because he was such a fan.

Wagner’s Der Ring des Nibelungen (The Ring Cycle) Das Rheingold (Rhinegold) A dwarf named Alberich seizes the gold of the Rhine (a river) and denounces love to get the magic ring which gives ultimate power. (Sound familiar?) Wotan (the ruler of gods) must give his wife’s sister Freia to the giants who built Valhalla. He doesn’t want to, so promises the ring of power instead. Wotan finds Alberich and tricks him into transforming into a toad. Alberich puts a curse on the ring; whoever owns it will be killed and have it stolen, and everyone else will desire it. Die Walkure (The Valkyries) Siegmund (Wotan’s illegitimate son) is fleeing from enemies. He seeks shelter with Sieglinde, whom he falls in love with. He then find out that she is his twin sister!! Wotan’s Valkyrie daughter Brunnhilde is ordered to make sure Siegmund dies so as to please Wotan’s wife Fricka. She disobeys, but Wotan shows up and disables Siegmund, and he dies. Sieglinde is pregnant with Siegmund’s baby. Brunnhilde is cursed by Wotan to sleep on a mountain surrounded by flames. Only the bravest of heroes will be able to save her.

Wagner’s Der Ring des Nibelungen (The Ring Cycle) Siegfried Siegfried, the son of Siegmund and Sieglinde, has been raised by Alberich’s brother Mime. Mime wishes for the ring, and forges the sword Nothung which was used by Siegmund. The dragon that holds the ring (one of the giants transformed) is killed by Siegfried. Siegfried takes the ring. Siegfried defeats Wotan (in disguise) at the mountaintop and wakes Brunnhilde. Wotan escapes and the two fall in love. Gotterdammerung (The Twilight of the Gods) Siegfried gives Brunnhilde the ring before going off on adventures. He is tricked into drinking a love potion by the lord of the Gibichungs, Gunther, and falls in love with Gutrune, his sister. He is then ordered to find and kidnap Brunnhilde to be Gunther’s wife. Hagen, Albreich’s son and advisor to Gunther, convinces Gunther and the now betrayed Brunnhilde to kill Siegfried. Siegfried is murdered, Hagen kills Gunther, and Brunnhilde gives the ring back to the Rhinemaidens. Valhalla is destroyed as the curse of the ring claims Wotan and the other gods.

Wagner Videos Ride of the Valkyries Wedding March

Tristan und Isolde Prelude Wagner Videos Cont. Tristan und Isolde Prelude Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg (Overture)

Wagner in Pop Culture What’s Opera Doc? Bugs Bunny Opera