2. Richard Wagner (1813-1883) Polarizing German opera composer –Before him there was no great Germanic opera tradition Fascination with theatre –He wrote his own music & libretti –Lead him to develop a new “type” of opera called Music Drama No aria-recitative, just constant music (unending melody) The orchestra is like a member of the cast

3. Richard Wagner (1813-1883) Letimotif – a recurring musical theme associated with a particular person, place or idea Tristan und Isolde –Composed 1856-59, but not premiered until 1865 –Shocking drama of eroticism based on a medieval poem, focusing on desire and lust –Unprecedented orchestration – begins with a famous chord that does not resolve until the end of the opera Extremely chromatic, later blamed as the downfal of tonality

4. The Tristan Chord

6. The Ring of the Nibelung Four operas total, lasting a total of 15 hours: –Das Rheingold (The Rhinegold) –Die Walküre (The Valkyrie) –Siegfried –Götterdämmerung (Twilight of the Gods) Composed from 1851-74, premiered as a whole in Bayreuth in 1876 Based on a Norse-Germanic tale of power and love