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| Era | Romantic |
| Birth - Death | 22 May 1813 - 13 February 1883 |
| Summary | Wilhelm Richard Wagner was a German composer, conductor, music theorist, and essayist, primarily known for his operas (or "music dramas" as they were later called). Unlike most other great opera composers, Wagner always wrote the scenario and libretto for his works himself. Wagner's compositions, particularly those of his later period, are notable for their contrapuntal texture, rich chromaticism, harmonies and orchestration, and elaborate use of leitmotifs: musical themes associated with specific characters, locales, or plot elements. Wagner pioneered advances in musical language, such as extreme chromaticism and quickly shifting tonal centres, which greatly influenced the development of European classical music. |
| Video | Ride of the Valkyries |
| More Information | Richard Wagner Archive - Family tree, opera's, letters, quotations and a biography on the composer. The Nibelungenlied - Well-presented translation of the tale of Siegfried, originally written around 1200 CE, from OMACL. The Story of the Volsungs (Volsunga Saga) - Complete English translation. Richard Wagner Web Site - His life and works. Analyses and commented texts. The Wagner Library - Concentrates on English translations of Wagner's prose works, letters and articles. Richard Wagner - Libretti and premiere information, creators of roles, portrait, and links from Opera Glass. A Vulture is Almost an Eagle - Lecture by David Conway on Wagner's Relationship to Judaism. Classical Music Archives: Wagner - Biography from the Concise Oxford Dictionary of Music. Richard Wagner - Listing at the Lied and Art Songs Text Page with German lyrics to selected vocal works and cycles, some with translations. RWagner.net - Contains libretti of Wagner's operas, with English translations. Photo of Wagner's manuscript for the Bridal Chorus Works by Richard Wagner at Project Gutenberg The National Archive of the Richard Wagner Foundation The Wagner Tuba The humanities.music.composers.wagner FAQ Bayreuth Festival |
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