Born: 22 May 1813; Leipzig, Germany
Died: 13 February 1883; Ca' Vendramin
Calergi, Venice, Italy
Nationality: German
Richard Wagner was a German composer,
theater director and conductor, born on May 22, 1813 and died on February 13,
1883, who is mainly famous for operas (or music dramas).
Wagner's birthplace, at 3, the Brühl, Leipzig
Unlike most opera
composers, Wagner wrote both the libretto and the music for his stage works.
Initially, establishing his reputation as a composer of works in the romantic vein
of Carl Maria von Weber and Giacomo Meyerbeer, he revolutionized opera through
the concept of the Gesamtkunstwerk ("total work of art"), in pursuit
of the integration of poetry, visual arts, music, and drama arts. He described
this vision in a series of essays published between 1849 and 1852. Wagner
realized this idea most faithfully in the first half of "Der Ring des
Nibelungen", consisting of four operas.
In particular, his later works are famous
for their complex textures, rich harmonies and orchestration, and the use of “leitmotifs”,
which are musical phrases related to individual characters, places, ideas or
plot elements. His works “Tristan und Isolde” are also described as the work
that marked the beginning of modern music.
Wagner and his second wife Cosima Wagner,
Wagner created the “Bayreuth Festspielhaus",
an opera house that embodied many novel design features. He premiered his
operas “Der Ring des Nibelungen” and “Parsifal” here, and his stage works are continuously
performed at the “Bayreuth Festival” every year, run by his descendants every
year.
The Bayreuth Festspielhaus
His thoughts about the relative contributions of music and drama in opera
changed again, and he reintroduced some of the traditional forms into the last
few stage works, including his opera, "Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg".
Until his last year, Wagner's life was
characterized by political exile, turbulent love affairs, poverty, and repeated
flight from his creditors.
In addition, his controversial writings on music,
drama and politics attracted many opinions expressing antisemitic sentiments.
In addition to composing, Wagner influenced many art fields of the 20th
century, including conducting, philosophy, literature, visual arts and theater.
The Wagner grave in the Wahnfried garden
Thank you.
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