Das Rheingold: Prelude
Wilhelm Richard Wagner (22 May 1813 – 13 February 1883) was a German compos… Read Full Bio ↴Wilhelm Richard Wagner (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 later 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, notably, 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.
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, notably, 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.
Das Rheingold: Prelude
Richard Wagner Lyrics
Instrumental
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@paulwien65
I heard the ring once in Bayreuth. Inside the Festspielhaus you don’t see the Orchestra or the conductor .. after the lights go down you do not know when it’s start.... then came this glorious music and starts from everywhere in the house because the acoustic is unique.. it is an unbelievable experience.. never heard it more emotional as in Bayreuth ...one of the biggest moments in my musical life
@MARCTULATAI
My greatest dream is a trip to Bayreuth !
@lindildeev5721
@@MARCTULATAI The three cities and the three events I want to see : the festival of Bayreuth, the Carnival of Venice and the concert for the new year of Vienna. I went once in Bayreuth but I hope I will go to the concert.
@MARCTULATAI
@@lindildeev5721 The Wagner Festival in Bayreuth and a visit on the Wagner Museum in Wahnfried is a dream of my Life ! .
@lindildeev5721
@@MARCTULATAI I visited Wahnfried. Siegfried's and Liszt's houses too but Wahnfried was such an enchantment.
@sverige11074
he created the concepts of our current theaters and the dolby surround
@dabedwards
The sustained chord is now so commonly used in feature films to create atmosphere and tension, that it's difficult to imagine how utterly alien and overwhelming this must have sounded when first performed.
@dopaminecloud
I think that underestimates people's musical experience in the past, but it sure is a great piece.
@andsalomoni
This prelude is actually a modal piece of music, the most comprehensible musical form.
@moltovivace
The starting point of film music was Wagner, and film music has still never really ventured beyond Wagner. Wagner is past, present, and future.