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, Scene 2, IX, Auf, Loge, hinab mit m | Das Rheingold, Disc 1, Scenes 1 & 2 |
| 2 | Siegfried, Act III, Scene 3, IV, O Siegfried! Sieg | Siegfried, Disc 4, Act III, Scenes 1b-3 |
| 3 | Götterdämmerung; Dritter Aufzug | Wagner: Der Ring des Nibelungen, Dritter Tag - Götterdämmerung |
| 4 | Siegfried | Wagner: Siegfried |
| 5 | Die Walküre; Zweite Szene | Wagner: Die Walküre |
| 6 | Siegfried, Act I, Scene 3, VI, Notung! Notung! Nei | Siegfried, Disc 2, Act I, Scene 3b, Act II, Scenes |
| 7 | Siegfried, Act I, Scene 2, III, Was zu wissen dir | Siegfried, Disc 1, Act I, Scenes 1-3a |
| 8 | Das Rheingold, Scene 4, II, Gezahlt hab' ich; nun | Das Rheingold, Disc 2, Scenes 3 & 4 |
| 9 | Siegfried, Act I, Scene I, V, Vieles lehrtest du, | Siegfried, Disc 1, Act I, Scenes 1-3a |
| 10 | Vierte Szene | Der Ring des Nibelungen: Das Rheingold |
| 11 | 36. Act II, Scene V / Auf, Gunther, edler Gibichun | Götterdämmerung - Solti - Wiener Philharmoniker - |
| 12 | 20. Act I, Scene III / Welch bange Träume Mären (B | Götterdämmerung - Solti - Wiener Philharmoniker - |
| 13 | Siegfried; Dritter Aufzug | Wagner: Der Ring des Nibelungen, Dritter Tag - Götterdämmerung |
| 14 | Tristan und Isolde - Vorspiel zum | Wagner: Selections from Tristan und Isolde, Tannha |
| 15 | Siegfried; Dritter Aufzug | Wagner: Der Ring des Nibelungen, Dritter Tag - Götterdämmerung |
| 16 | 25. Act II, Scene II / Hoiho, Hagen! Müder Mann! ( | Götterdämmerung - Solti - Wiener Philharmoniker - |
| 17 | Siegfried, Act III, Scene 3, II, Das ist kein Mann | Siegfried, Disc 4, Act III, Scenes 1b-3 |
| 18 | Das Rheingold, Scene 1, II, Weia! Waga! Woge, du | Das Rheingold, Disc 1, Scenes 1 & 2 |
| 19 | Das Rheingold, Scene 4, X, Rheingold! Rheingold! | Das Rheingold, Disc 2, Scenes 3 & 4 |
| 20 | 2 | Die Walküre 2 (Der Ring des Nibelungen) |