Richard Wagner
(1813-1883)

Died aged c. 70

Wilhelm Richard Wagner (/ˈvɑːɡnər/ VAHG-nər; German: [ˈʁɪçaʁt ˈvaːɡnɐ]; 22 May 1813 – 13 February 1883) was a German composer, theatre director, polemicist, and conductor who is chiefly known for his operas (or, as some of his mature works were later known, "music dramas"). Unlike most opera composers, Wagner wrote both the libretto and the music for each of his stage works. Initially establishing his reputation as a composer of works in the romantic vein of Carl Maria von Weber and Giacomo Meyerbeer, Wagner revolutionised opera through his concept of the Gesamtkunstwerk ("total work of art"), by which he sought to synthesise the poetic, visual, musical and dramatic arts, with music subsidiary to drama. He described this vision in a series of essays published between 1849 and 1852. Wagner realised these ideas most fully in the first half of the four-opera cycle Der Ring des Nibelungen (The Ring of the Nibelung). His compositions, particularly those of his later period, are notable for their complex textures, rich harmonies and orchestration, and the elaborate use of leitmotifs—musical phrases associated with individual characters, places, ideas, or plot elements. His advances in musical language, such as extreme chromaticism and quickly shifting tonal centres, greatly influenced the development of classical music. His Tristan und Isolde is sometimes described as marking the start of modern music. Wagner had his own opera house built, the Bayreuth Festspielhaus, which embodied many novel design features. The Ring and Parsifal were premiered here and his most important stage works continue to be performed at the annual Bayreuth Festival, run by his descendants. His thoughts on the relative contributions of music and drama in opera were to change again, and he reintroduced some traditional forms into his last few stage works, including Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg (The Mastersingers of Nuremberg). Until his final years, Wagner's life was characterised by political exile, turbulent love affairs, poverty and repeated flight from his creditors. His controversial writings on music, drama and politics have attracted extensive comment – particularly, since the late 20th century, where they express antisemitic sentiments. The effect of his ideas can be traced in many of the arts throughout the 20th century; his influence spread beyond composition into conducting, philosophy, literature, the visual arts and theatre.

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Commemorated on 8 plaques

TiggerSnapper on Flickr All Rights Reserved
Ekaterina Yudina on Flickr All Rights Reserved

Edward Dannreuther Musician 1844-1905 lived here 1873-1894 host to Richard Wagner for 5 weeks in 1877

12 Orme Square, London, United Kingdom where they stayed

Alte Nicolaischule 1512 als erste städtische Bürgerschule eröffnet. Bedeutende Schüler: Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz, Christian Thomasius, Johann Gottfried Seume, Richard Wagner

English translation: Alte Nicolaishule opened in 1512 as the first municipal bail (?) school. Major students: Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz, Christian Thomasius, Johann Gottfried Seume, Richard Wagner

Alte Nicolaischule restaurant, Nicolaikirchhof, Leipzig, Germany where they was a student

Nel 1880 Riccardo Wagner Partì di qua E a schiena d'asino andò a Ravello dove trovò per il "Parsifal" la scena del "Giardino di Klingsor" e delle "Fanciulle Fiori" (dalle cronache del tempo) Il 19 Settembre 1975 a cura della Azienda Soggiorno e Turismo di Amalfi

Hotel Lune - Via Pantaleone Comite, Atrani, Italy where they stayed (1880)

Richard Wagner séjourna au grand hôtel «en janvier 1866»

English translation: Richard Wagner stayed at the grand hotel “in January 1866” [AWS Translate]

Hôtel Noailles, Canebière, Marseille, France where they stayed (1866)

Ici Charles Baudelaire, Jean Sibelius, Richard Wagner, Oscar Wilde ont honoré Paris de leur séjovr

English translation: Here Charles Baudelaire, Jean Sibelius, Richard Wagner, Oscar Wilde have honoured Paris with their visit

19 quai Voltaire, Paris, France where they stayed

Richard Wagner, 1813-1883, a vécu ici du 30 Octobre 1841 au 7 Avril 1842.

English translation: Richard Wagner, 1813-1883, lived here from October 30, 1841 to April 7, 1842. [AWS Translate]

14 rue de Seine, Paris, France where they lived (1841-1842)

Richard Wagner, 1813 - 1883, vécut dans cet immeuble d'octobre 1860 à juillet 1861.

English translation: Richard Wagner, 1813 - 1883, lived in this building from October 1860 to July 1861. [AWS Translate]

3 rue d'Aumale, Paris, France where they lived (1860-1861)

1836-1837 Lebte und wirkte in Königsberg der groess Deutsche komponist Richard Wagner в Кёнигсберге жил и творил великий немецкий композитор Рихард Вагнер

English translation: 1836-1837 in Königsberg lived and created the great German composer Richard Wagner

Кафедральный собор (внутри), Калининград - Kaliningrad, Russia where they lived near (1836-1837)