Wilhelm Richard Wagner (22nd May 1813???13th February 1883) was an influential German composer, conductor, music theorist, and essayist, primarily known for his operas (or "music dramas" as he later came to call them). His compositions, particularly those of his later period, are notable for their contrapuntal texture, rich harmonies and orchestration, and elaborate use of leitmotifs: themes associated with specific characters, locales, or plot elements. Wagner's chromatic musical language prefigured later developments in European classical music, including extreme chromaticism and atonality. He transformed musical thought through his idea of Gesamtkunstwerk ("total art-work"), epitomized by his monumental four-opera cycle Der Ring des Nibelungen (1876). His concept of leitmotif and integrated musical expression was also a strong influence on many 20th century film scores. Wagner was and remains a controversial figure, both for his musical and dramatic innovations, and for his anti-semitic and political opinions.
1 | Act 1 Sc 1c: Da hast du die Stuecken, schaendliche | Siegfried 1 - Wagner; Solti; Vienna Philharmonic |
2 | Siegfried | Wagner: Siegfried |
3 | 33. Act II, Scene IV / Gunther, wehr deinem Weibe | Götterdämmerung - Solti - Wiener Philharmoniker - |
4 | Siegfried, Act III, Scene 3, I, Selige Öde auf son | Siegfried, Disc 4, Act III, Scenes 1b-3 |
5 | Siegfried, Act I, Scene 3, VI, Notung! Notung! Nei | Siegfried, Disc 2, Act I, Scene 3b, Act II, Scenes |
6 | Götterdämmerung; Dritter Aufzug | Wagner: Der Ring des Nibelungen, Dritter Tag - Götterdämmerung |
7 | Das Rheingold, Scene 4, I, Da, Vetter, sitze du fe | Das Rheingold, Disc 2, Scenes 3 & 4 |
8 | Das Rheingold, Scene 1, II, Weia! Waga! Woge, du | Das Rheingold, Disc 1, Scenes 1 & 2 |
9 | Das Rheingold; Zweite Szene | Wagner: Das Rheingold |
10 | Götterdämmerung; Dritter Aufzug | Wagner: Der Ring des Nibelungen, Dritter Tag - Götterdämmerung |
11 | Siegfried, Act I, Scene 3, III, Bist du es, Kind? | Siegfried, Disc 2, Act I, Scene 3b, Act II, Scenes |
12 | Act I, Scene II / Frisch auf die Fahrt! (Siegf | Götterdämmerung - Solti - Wiener Philharmoniker - |
13 | Die Walküre; Dritte Szene | Wagner: Die Walküre |
14 | Das Rheingold; Zweite Szene | Wagner: Das Rheingold |
15 | Götterdämmerung; Dritter Aufzug | Wagner: Der Ring des Nibelungen, Dritter Tag - Götterdämmerung |
16 | Das Rheingold, Scene 4, X, Rheingold! Rheingold! | Das Rheingold, Disc 2, Scenes 3 & 4 |
17 | Siegfried; Dritter Aufzug | Wagner: Der Ring des Nibelungen, Dritter Tag - Götterdämmerung |
18 | Gotterdammerung | Wagner: Selections from Tristan und Isolde, Tannha |
19 | Siegfried | Wagner: Siegfried |
20 | 1 | Die Walküre 2 (Der Ring des Nibelungen) |