Wilhelm Richard Wagner (22nd May 1813???13th February 1883) was an influential German composer, conductor, music theorist, and essayist, primarily known for his operas (or "music dramas" as he later came to call them). His compositions, particularly those of his later period, are notable for their contrapuntal texture, rich harmonies and orchestration, and elaborate use of leitmotifs: themes associated with specific characters, locales, or plot elements. Wagner's chromatic musical language prefigured later developments in European classical music, including extreme chromaticism and atonality. He transformed musical thought through his idea of Gesamtkunstwerk ("total art-work"), epitomized by his monumental four-opera cycle Der Ring des Nibelungen (1876). His concept of leitmotif and integrated musical expression was also a strong influence on many 20th century film scores. Wagner was and remains a controversial figure, both for his musical and dramatic innovations, and for his anti-semitic and political opinions.
| 1 | Siegfried; Dritter Aufzug | Wagner: Der Ring des Nibelungen, Dritter Tag - Götterdämmerung |
| 2 | Siegfried, Act III, Vorspiel | Siegfried, Disc 3, Act II, Scenes 2b-3, Act III, S |
| 3 | Siegfried, Act III, Scene 1, II, Stark ruft das Li | Siegfried, Disc 3, Act II, Scenes 2b-3, Act III, S |
| 4 | 04. Prologue / Zu neuen Taten, teurer Helde (Brünn | Götterdämmerung - Solti - Wiener Philharmoniker - |
| 5 | 3 | Die Walküre 2 (Der Ring des Nibelungen) |
| 6 | Act I, Scene II / Deinem Bruder bot ich mich z | Götterdämmerung - Solti - Wiener Philharmoniker - |
| 7 | Das Rheingold; Zweite Szene | Wagner: Das Rheingold |
| 8 | Siegfried, Act II, Scene 2, II, Daß der mein Vater | Siegfried, Disc 2, Act I, Scene 3b, Act II, Scenes |
| 9 | Vierte Szene | Der Ring des Nibelungen: Das Rheingold |
| 10 | Das Rheingold, Scene 1, III, Garstig glatter glits | Das Rheingold, Disc 1, Scenes 1 & 2 |
| 11 | Siegfried, Act III, Scene 1, I, Wache, Wala! Wala! | Siegfried, Disc 3, Act II, Scenes 2b-3, Act III, S |
| 12 | Die Walküre; Zweite Szene | Wagner: Die Walküre |
| 13 | 2 | Die Walküre 2 (Der Ring des Nibelungen) |
| 14 | Siegfried; Dritter Aufzug | Wagner: Der Ring des Nibelungen, Dritter Tag - Götterdämmerung |
| 15 | Siegfried | Wagner: Siegfried |
| 16 | Siegfried, Act II, Scene 1, IV, Fafner! Fafner! Er | Siegfried, Disc 2, Act I, Scene 3b, Act II, Scenes |
| 17 | Die Fliegende Holländer: Overture | Masters of Classical Music, Vol. 5 |
| 18 | Siegfried | Wagner: Siegfried |
| 19 | OUVERTURE and BACCHANALE | ORCHESTRAL WORKS |
| 20 | 32. Act II, Scene IV / Helle Wehr! Heilige Waffe! | Götterdämmerung - Solti - Wiener Philharmoniker - |