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 | Götterdämmerung; Dritter Aufzug | Wagner: Der Ring des Nibelungen, Dritter Tag - Götterdämmerung |
| 2 | Prologue / O heilige Götter! (Brünnhilde) | Götterdämmerung - Solti - Wiener Philharmoniker - |
| 3 | Siegfried | Wagner: Siegfried |
| 4 | Das Rheingold; Zweite Szene | Wagner: Das Rheingold |
| 5 | Die Walküre; Dritte Szene | Wagner: Die Walküre |
| 6 | 24. Act II, Scene I / Schläfst du, Hagen, mein Soh | Götterdämmerung - Solti - Wiener Philharmoniker - |
| 7 | 18. Act I, Scene III / Altgewohntes Geräusch (Brün | Götterdämmerung - Solti - Wiener Philharmoniker - |
| 8 | Act 1 Sc 1a: Zwangvolle Plage! Mueh ohne Zweck! | Siegfried 1 - Wagner; Solti; Vienna Philharmonic |
| 9 | Siegfried, Act I, Scene 2, III, Was zu wissen dir | Siegfried, Disc 1, Act I, Scenes 1-3a |
| 10 | Die Walküre; Dritte Szene | Wagner: Die Walküre |
| 11 | Die Walküre; Vierte Szene | Der Ring Des Nibelungen; Die Walküre 3 |
| 12 | Götterdämmerung; Dritter Aufzug | Wagner: Der Ring des Nibelungen, Dritter Tag - Götterdämmerung |
| 13 | Siegfried, Act III, Scene 2, IV, Mit zerfochtner W | Siegfried, Disc 4, Act III, Scenes 1b-3 |
| 14 | Act I, Scene II / Wer ist Gibichs Sohn? (Siegf | Götterdämmerung - Solti - Wiener Philharmoniker - |
| 15 | Siegfried, Act I, Scene 3, V, Her mit den Stücken, | Siegfried, Disc 2, Act I, Scene 3b, Act II, Scenes |
| 16 | Vierte Szene | Der Ring des Nibelungen: Das Rheingold |
| 17 | Act 1 Vorspiel | Siegfried 1 - Wagner; Solti; Vienna Philharmonic |
| 18 | Das Rheingold; Erste Szene | Wagner: Das Rheingold |
| 19 | Das Rheingold, Scene 4, IV, Fasolt und Fafner nahe | Das Rheingold, Disc 2, Scenes 3 & 4 |
| 20 | Dritte Szene | Der Ring des Nibelungen: Das Rheingold |