
Richard Wagner
It was written to be performed without an intermission Wagner called it "A Festival Play for the Consecration of the Stage" The revised "Paris version" is the most frequently performed today Famous for the Bridal Chorus known as "Here Comes the Bride" Requires around five hours to perform Wagner took 26 years to write it (1848-1874) Liszt made several piano transcriptions of the opera German composer primarily known for his operas German composer who fundamentally changed European musical, literary, and theatrical life Opera composer of the Ring Cycle and Tristan und Isolde, others Text by Jean de Béranger Five song cycle to poems by Mathilde Wesendonck (1869) The first of Der Ring des Nibelungen (The Ring of the Nibelung). A cycle of four operas: Das Rheingold, Die Walkure, Siegfried, and Gotterdammerung. Spoofed in the modern musical theater comedy "Das Barbecue". (1868) The original story was conceived by Wagner. Distinguished from the bulk of Wagner's work as a departure due to his use of ryhmed verse, arias, choruses, and a quintet. Another feature that marks it as a quirk in Wagner's oeuvre: it contains a ballet. (1870) The source of the famous "Ride of the Valkyries", which you may recognize as the melody Macintosh chose for its classic flying toaster screen-saver. You young'uns won't know that one. (1876) The title is a German translation of the Norse word "Ragnarok". Prophesied in Norse mythology, Ragnarok is a war between the gods which ultimately brings about the end of the world. (1850) The story is based on medieval Germanic lore. (1882) Wagner's last opera, from the epic poem "Parzival" by Wolfram von Eschenbach. The story of Parsifal's quest for the Holy Grail. (1876) The third of Der Ring des Nibelungen (The Ring of the Nibelung). Composed as a birthday present Wagner's second wife after the birth of their son in 1869 (1845) Based on German legends. (1859) Often cited as the seed or genesis of the atonal movement that began in the 20th century. Famous Hungarian pianist / composer
|