RICHARD WAGNERRICHARD WAGNERJenny Cho

World Hist. G

Brief BiographyBrief Biography

Born in Leipzig, Germany on May 22,1813

Loved theatre when he was young, due to stepfather’s influence

German composer and director; wrote thirteen operas and numerous other compositions

Died on Feb. 13, 1883 in Venice, Italy.

His Work: How it His Work: How it affected the opera affected the opera

scenescene

many western productions are based on Wagner’s operas

influenced musicians, poets, playwrights, and painters

A ‘taste’ of his workA ‘taste’ of his work

pointed to the beginnings of the Romantic period and beyond

Wagner was a very passionate man and most of his operas were a result from this passion

theme of most of his work is how desire can cause great suffering.

Samples of his WorkSamples of his Work

Die Liebesverbot

http://kr.youtube.com/watch?v=tO-hLHA-us0

Rienzi

http://kr.youtube.com/watch?v=tXwBGL1a8ZE

Wagner & German Wagner & German NationalismNationalism

Then came the Students' Association. The League of Virtue was founded. All so fantastic that no human being could grasp it. But I did. Now it is me no one grasps: I am the most German being, I am the German spirit. Question the incomparable magic of my works, compare them with the rest: and you can, for the present, say no differently than that - it is German. But what is this German? It must be something wonderful, mustn't it, for it is humanly finer than all else? - Oh heavens! It should have a soil, this German! I should be able to find my people! What a glorious people it ought to become. But to this people only could I belong. -Wagner, Richard

Wagner & German Wagner & German NationalismNationalism

A lot of his work was based on old German myths and stories

portrayed a lot of German culture in his operas

Interesting FactsInteresting Facts

Richard has been classified as a anarchist, socialist, proto-fascist (right-winged), and nationalist.

Richard had three years of formal training in music theory, but he never learned how to play a specific instrument.

BibliographyBibliographyFelsenfeld, Daniel, and Donna Getzinger. Richard Wagner and German Opera (Masters of Music). Greensboro, North Carolina: Morgan Reynolds Publishing, 2004.

“Richard Wagner Archive.” 3 Dec 2008 <http://users.utu.fi/hansalmi/wagner.html>.

“ABC-CLIO: World History: Modern: Entry Display.” 3 Dec 2008 <http://www.worldhistory.abc-clio.com/Search/Display.aspx?categoryid=22&entryid=316170&searchtext=richard+wagner&type=simple&option=all>.