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 | Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg: Aufzug der Meister | Masters of Classical Music, Vol. 5 |
| 2 | Die Walküre; Erste Szene | Wagner: Die Walküre |
| 3 | Act 1 Sc 3b: Heda! Du Fauler! | Siegfried 1 - Wagner; Solti; Vienna Philharmonic |
| 4 | Siegfried, Act II, Scene 3, I, Wohin schleichst du | Siegfried, Disc 3, Act II, Scenes 2b-3, Act III, S |
| 5 | Act I, Scene I / Nun hör, Hagen (Gunther) | Götterdämmerung - Solti - Wiener Philharmoniker - |
| 6 | Das Rheingold, Scene 4, IV, Fasolt und Fafner nahe | Das Rheingold, Disc 2, Scenes 3 & 4 |
| 7 | 26. Act II, Scene II / Heiß mich willkommen, Gibic | Götterdämmerung - Solti - Wiener Philharmoniker - |
| 8 | Das Rheingold, Scene 1, III, Garstig glatter glits | 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 | Prologue / Willst du mir Minne schenken (Brünn | Götterdämmerung - Solti - Wiener Philharmoniker - |
| 12 | Siegfried | Wagner: Siegfried |
| 13 | Act I, Scene II / Blühenden Lebens labendes Bl | Götterdämmerung - Solti - Wiener Philharmoniker - |
| 14 | Das Rheingold, Scene 2, I, Wotan! Gemahl! Erwach | Das Rheingold, Disc 1, Scenes 1 & 2 |
| 15 | Siegfried, Act I, Scene 3, VI, Notung! Notung! Nei | Siegfried, Disc 2, Act I, Scene 3b, Act II, Scenes |
| 16 | Das Rheingold, Scene 4, VI, Weiche, Wotan, weiche! | Das Rheingold, Disc 2, Scenes 3 & 4 |
| 17 | 1 | Die Walküre 2 (Der Ring des Nibelungen) |
| 18 | Siegfried, Act I, Scene I, I, Zwangvolle Plage! Mü | Siegfried, Disc 1, Act I, Scenes 1-3a |
| 19 | Siegfried, Act II, Scene 1, V, Nun, Alberich, das | Siegfried, Disc 2, Act I, Scene 3b, Act II, Scenes |
| 20 | Dritte Szene | Der Ring des Nibelungen: Das Rheingold |