The past month now I've been re-inspired by the music of Richard Wagner. This is not the first time I've admired his music (Opera Music), yet this is rather a further appreciation of it. I've always considered Wagner in the highest regards with the likes of Mozart, Bach, Beethoven, and Tchaikovsky. However my understanding of his music was perhaps incomplete and has recently increased thanks to some inspiring movie scores I've seen in the past (The New World, Melancholia, To the Wonder). After all most my inspiration is usually derived from movies.
I've always associated Wagner's music as powerfully driven, as demonstrated in classic works such as the Ride of the Valkyries or the Flying Dutchman. However Wagner also has a very sensual side as heard in works such as Tristan and Isolde and the Parsifal. This impeccable balance of soft and powerful music demonstrates his passionate brilliance. He set out to capture the German cultural identity and succeeded in creating a truly unique music. It has become the embodiment of Romanticism. I believe a good reason for his ingenuous romantic music was the incredibly romantic life that he lived.
He lived from 1813 to 1883, born in Leipzig, Germany. He was influenced at a very young age by theater and the works of Mozart and Beethoven. He studied music at Leipzig University and in 1833, at the age of 20 finished his first opera, The Fairies. This brought him recognized success and led him to become opera director in Madgeburg. It was there that he released another opera, The Ban of Love and fell for one of the actresses, Mina Planer. The two would have a troubled marriage for the next 30 years. In 1840, Wagner eventually moved to the Russian Empire, where he produced The Flying Dutchman and Rienzi.
Before Wagner could release his new masterpiece, Lohengrin, in 1849 he had to flee to Switzerland. During this time he struggled from financial and marital problems however began a new phase of writing and inspiration. During this time he began to introduce new ideals of aesthetics known as Gesamtkunstwerk, which was embodiment of art through multiple art forms. He also began to develop antisemitic views at this point, describing their art as lacking in German pride and essence.
He was influenced by new philosophy, most notably the pessimistic and aesthetic insights of Arthur Schopenhauer. He was also inspired by an admirer of his work, Mathilda Wessendock, who was a poet and wife to a silk merchant. The two became lovers and formed an unhealthy affair, that especially affected his wife, Minna. Both Schopenhauer and Wessendock were key inspirations to two of Wagner's greatest masterpieces; the four part opera, Der Ring des Nibelungen as well as Tristan and Isolde.
Wagner's fortune took an upswing when a young admirer became king of Bavaria. King Ludwig II payed for all of Wagner's debts, and proposed to stage his masterpiece operas such as Der Ring des Nibelungen and Tristan and Isolde for the first time. Tristan and Isolde premiered in the national theater of Munich in 1865 while Der Ring premiered in 1869. During this time Wagner had another affair, with Cosima Listz, the daughter of Hungarian compose, Franz Listz. This scandal eventually caused him to leave Munich with her. Despite heavy criticism from German nobles, Wagner still had the utmost support of King Ludwig.
The Life of Richard Wagner
He lived from 1813 to 1883, born in Leipzig, Germany. He was influenced at a very young age by theater and the works of Mozart and Beethoven. He studied music at Leipzig University and in 1833, at the age of 20 finished his first opera, The Fairies. This brought him recognized success and led him to become opera director in Madgeburg. It was there that he released another opera, The Ban of Love and fell for one of the actresses, Mina Planer. The two would have a troubled marriage for the next 30 years. In 1840, Wagner eventually moved to the Russian Empire, where he produced The Flying Dutchman and Rienzi.
These two operas brought him instant fame and he was welcomed back to Dresden, Germany with new positions. In 1842 he was appointed as the Royal Conductor for the Kingdom of Saxony where he experienced a new wave of German pride in his work. This was especially demonstrated in his 1845 opera, Tannhauser. However during this time in Germany, Wagner got involved in left-wing politics supporting numerous socialist and anarchist philosophers. In 1849 he played a minor role in the Dresden Uprising and was exiled from Germany as a result.
Before Wagner could release his new masterpiece, Lohengrin, in 1849 he had to flee to Switzerland. During this time he struggled from financial and marital problems however began a new phase of writing and inspiration. During this time he began to introduce new ideals of aesthetics known as Gesamtkunstwerk, which was embodiment of art through multiple art forms. He also began to develop antisemitic views at this point, describing their art as lacking in German pride and essence.He was influenced by new philosophy, most notably the pessimistic and aesthetic insights of Arthur Schopenhauer. He was also inspired by an admirer of his work, Mathilda Wessendock, who was a poet and wife to a silk merchant. The two became lovers and formed an unhealthy affair, that especially affected his wife, Minna. Both Schopenhauer and Wessendock were key inspirations to two of Wagner's greatest masterpieces; the four part opera, Der Ring des Nibelungen as well as Tristan and Isolde.
By 1858 he left Switzerland to bring an end to his affair with Mathilde. He traveled to Venice and Paris revising his past works and trying to mend ties with his off-and-on wife, Minna. However the affair had ultimately ended their relationship. In 1862 Wagner's political exile came to an end and he was welcomed back to Germany. He settled in Prussia and made peace with his wife, Minna, before her death in 1866.
Wagner's fortune took an upswing when a young admirer became king of Bavaria. King Ludwig II payed for all of Wagner's debts, and proposed to stage his masterpiece operas such as Der Ring des Nibelungen and Tristan and Isolde for the first time. Tristan and Isolde premiered in the national theater of Munich in 1865 while Der Ring premiered in 1869. During this time Wagner had another affair, with Cosima Listz, the daughter of Hungarian compose, Franz Listz. This scandal eventually caused him to leave Munich with her. Despite heavy criticism from German nobles, Wagner still had the utmost support of King Ludwig.
In 1871 Ludwig approved the finances of Wagner's new opera house, the Bayreuth Festspielhaus. He married Cosima, he helped him manage the new opera house. In 1876 he premiered his complete four part Der Ring cycle as a whole, which consisted of Das Rhinegold, Die Walkure, Siegfried, and Gotterdammerung. Many notable composers were in attendance, such as Edvard Grieg and Pytor Tchaikovsky.
During his final years, he wrote on numerous topics ranging from politics, Christianity, German nationalism, and further antisemitic views. He spent his final years from 1876 to 1883 in Italy, where he worked on another masterpiece, Parsifal. This opera premiered at the Bayreuth opera house in 1882, and the very ill Wagner led the opera all the way through. He died a year later in 1883. King Ludwig II dedicated the architectural wonder of the Neuschwanstein Castle as a homage to Wagner. His life and work live on today as the essence of German culture and pure romanticism.
His Greatest Works (My Favorites)
I'm no expert in music, however I constantly stride to broaden my horizons of the musical arts. Classical music is especially relaxing for me and there are some works that just hit me greater than others. I'm sure everyone has their own preferences, yet these are some of my own personal picks from Wagner that always seem to hit me at a deeper level. Another thing to note about Wagner's music is that it is not so much compositions yet long opera works with 15 minute preludes or overtures. Therefore it's mostly the excerpts that I've come to admire.
- Parsifal Act 1 Prelude (This is my new favorite of Wagner. I recently heard this sensual piece in the film To The Wonder. The first two minutes of this prelude, has a trance-like, romantic quality to it. It slowly builds the sensations with climbing notes, until it culminates with a beautiful release. This is a heavenly work, truly the stuff of romance. This was fittingly his last opera and a perfect farewell)
- Die Walkure; Ride of the Valkyries from Der Ring des Nibelungen (This is no doubt the most famous of Wagner's works. It is powerfully driven by strong horns and violins. It instills classical thoughts of mythological and romantic heroism)
- Das Rheingold Prelude from Der Ring des Nibelungen (I first heard this one in the opening of The New World and found it be very soothing. It's 4 minutes of slow wondrous buildup, until the opera singer takes flight at the culmination. Another heavenly piece from Wagner)
- Tristan and Isolde (This piece from Wagner is a bit on the pessimistic, gloom-and-doom, tragic side, however still just as enticing. I first heard it in the film Melancholia, and the music went so well with the apocalyptic mood of the film. It has constant build-ups and dips that really sends emotions for a wave)
- Tannhueser Overture (This is another powerful work, yet my favorite excerpt comes at the 2:40 mark where the violins begin to take flight. This goes on for about a minute of constant buildup always reaching a higher and deeper level.)
- Das Rhinegold; Entrances of the Gods from Der Ring des Nibelungen (Several of Wagner's powerful works are carried by strong horns and this is a fine example. This one also has impeccable romantic, mythological qualities to it)
- Lohengrin Prelude (This work has a minimalist relaxing quality to it. It maintains a theme of the same high pitched notes, alternating up and down this high scale. To me it instills thoughts of daybreak or the great outdoors, however I could also see it as the perfect lullaby)
- Gotterdammerung; Seigfried's Funeral March from Der Ring des Nibelungen (This powerful work mixes themes of tragedy with heroic revenge. It is a fitting conclusion to Wagner's ultimate four part masterpiece opera, Der Ring)
- The Flying Dutchman Overture (Another powerful piece carried by horns and qualities of German heroic romanticism. This is a piece that goes up and down and all over the place, yet the intro theme is by far my favorite)
- Die Meistersinger von Nurnberg Prelude (This is one of Wagner's only comedy operas, and the music instills a light quality of realism and optimism.This was one of his longest operas, and is a nice break from his other dramatic, mythological works)
Once again, my understanding of Wagner is still at a very novice level, and I'd like to eventually dig deeper and deeper into his music, themes, and his incredible mythological story lines.
