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 | Das Rheingold; Erste Szene | Wagner: Das Rheingold |
2 | Das Rheingold, Scene 1, III, Garstig glatter glits | Das Rheingold, Disc 1, Scenes 1 & 2 |
3 | Siegfried; Dritter Aufzug | Wagner: Der Ring des Nibelungen, Dritter Tag - Götterdämmerung |
4 | 2 | Die Walküre 2 (Der Ring des Nibelungen) |
5 | Act 1 Sc 2b: Was zu wissen dir frommt, solltest du | Siegfried 1 - Wagner; Solti; Vienna Philharmonic |
6 | Tristan und Isolde - Vorspiel zum | Wagner: Selections from Tristan und Isolde, Tannha |
7 | Die Walküre; Dritte Szene | Wagner: Die Walküre |
8 | Siegfried, Act I, Scene 3, IV, Fühltest du nie im | Siegfried, Disc 2, Act I, Scene 3b, Act II, Scenes |
9 | Dritte Szene | Der Ring des Nibelungen: Das Rheingold |
10 | Siegfried, Act I, Scene 3, I, Verfluchtes Licht! | Siegfried, Disc 1, Act I, Scenes 1-3a |
11 | Siegfried | Wagner: Siegfried |
12 | Act 1 Sc 1g: Und diese Stuecken sollst du mir schm | Siegfried 1 - Wagner; Solti; Vienna Philharmonic |
13 | Siegfried, Act I, Scene I, V, Vieles lehrtest du, | Siegfried, Disc 1, Act I, Scenes 1-3a |
14 | 07. Prologue / Siegfrieds Rheinfahrt | Götterdämmerung - Solti - Wiener Philharmoniker - |
15 | Ac 1 Sc 2a: Heil dir, weiser Schmied! | Siegfried 1 - Wagner; Solti; Vienna Philharmonic |
16 | Siegfried | Wagner: Siegfried |
17 | Vierte Szene | Der Ring des Nibelungen: Das Rheingold |
18 | Das Rheingold, Scene 4, I, Da, Vetter, sitze du fe | Das Rheingold, Disc 2, Scenes 3 & 4 |
19 | Tristan und Isolde: Prelude and Liebestod | Masters of Classical Music, Vol. 5 |
20 | Götterdämmerung; Dritter Aufzug | Wagner: Der Ring des Nibelungen, Dritter Tag - Götterdämmerung |