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 | Prologue / Es ragt die Burg, von Riesen gebaut | Götterdämmerung - Solti - Wiener Philharmoniker - |
| 2 | Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg: Aufzug der Meister | Masters of Classical Music, Vol. 5 |
| 3 | Act I, Scene II / Frisch auf die Fahrt! (Siegf | Götterdämmerung - Solti - Wiener Philharmoniker - |
| 4 | Siegfried, Act III, Scene 3, VI, Ewig war ich, ewi | Siegfried, Disc 4, Act III, Scenes 1b-3 |
| 5 | Die Walküre; Zweite Szene | Wagner: Die Walküre |
| 6 | Act 1 Sc 1g: Und diese Stuecken sollst du mir schm | Siegfried 1 - Wagner; Solti; Vienna Philharmonic |
| 7 | Siegfried; Dritter Aufzug | Wagner: Der Ring des Nibelungen, Dritter Tag - Götterdämmerung |
| 8 | Die Walküre; Dritte Szene | Wagner: Die Walküre |
| 9 | Siegfried | Wagner: Siegfried |
| 10 | Das Rheingold, Scene 3, II, Schau, du Schelm! | Das Rheingold, Disc 2, Scenes 3 & 4 |
| 11 | Siegfried, Act II, Scene 2, VII, Zur Kunde taugt k | Siegfried, Disc 3, Act II, Scenes 2b-3, Act III, S |
| 12 | Act 1 Sc 1f: Einst lag wimmernd ein Weib | Siegfried 1 - Wagner; Solti; Vienna Philharmonic |
| 13 | Vierte Szene | Der Ring des Nibelungen: Das Rheingold |
| 14 | Dritte Szene | Der Ring des Nibelungen: Das Rheingold |
| 15 | Das Rheingold, Scene 3, III, Nibelheim hier: durch | Das Rheingold, Disc 2, Scenes 3 & 4 |
| 16 | Siegfried, Act II, Scene 1, V, Nun, Alberich, das | Siegfried, Disc 2, Act I, Scene 3b, Act II, Scenes |
| 17 | Act 1 Sc 3b: Heda! Du Fauler! | Siegfried 1 - Wagner; Solti; Vienna Philharmonic |
| 18 | Siegfried, Act III, Scene 1, III, Dir Unweisen ruf | Siegfried, Disc 4, Act III, Scenes 1b-3 |
| 19 | Siegfried, Act I, Scene I, VI, Einst lag wimmernd | Siegfried, Disc 1, Act I, Scenes 1-3a |
| 20 | 07. Prologue / Siegfrieds Rheinfahrt | Götterdämmerung - Solti - Wiener Philharmoniker - |