Richard Wagner

The Profile

Wilhelm Richard Wagner (1813–1883) was a German composer known for his operas and music dramas, including the Ring cycle and Tristan und Isolde.

Innovator of the music drama and extensive use of leitmotifs; major influence on late-Romantic and early modern composers; associated with the Bayreuth Festival dedicated to his works; also known for his anti-Semitic writings which generated longstanding controversy.

Three DeBaser reviews praise Wagner's dramatic scope, orchestral innovations and the emotional power of works such as Tristan und Isolde and Götterdämmerung. Reviewers combine musical analysis with ironic commentary. Recordings and performances are recommended for committed listeners.