WAGNER

BACKGROUND

• Born in May 22, 1813
• Was one of nine children
• Showed very little musical promise at a young age
• Married singer and actress Minna Planner in 1836

BACKGROUND

• 13 completed operas
• Similar number of failed or incomplete projects
• Held very strong Anti-Semitic views
• Passed away in Venice on the 13th of February 1883, age 69

ELEMENTS OF WAGNER'S MUSIC

• The "Leitmotif"
• A musical signature
• Designed to represent a character or theme in an opera
• A recurring melody that is short, consistent and distinct

ELEMENTS OF WAGNER'S MUSIC

• "Gesamtunkstwerk"
• Meaning "total work of art"
• For Wagner it was his union of music, dram, theatrical effects and even dance

NOTABLE WORKS

• Tristan und Isolde (Tristan and Isolde)
• Took two years to compose
• Widely regarded as one of greatest operas of the 19th century

NOTABLE WORKS

• Der Ring des Nibelungen (The Ring Cycle)
• Written over 26 years, consisting of four parts
• An extraordinary work in terms of length
• Takes four nights to perform, 15 hours of music depending on conductor's pace

LINKS TO HTILER

• Hitler was quoted saying:
• "With the exception of Richard Wagner, I have no forerunner"
• "Whoever wants to understand National Socialist Germany must first know Wagner"

LINKS TO MAESTRO

• While listening to a Wagner piece, Keller begins to shout in German and is escorted from the performance.
• The next day when Paul attends his music lesson he hears Keller playing and singing Tristan and Isolde
• Keller's wife, Mathilde Rosenthal, was a celebrated Jewish contralto and Wagner specialist

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