Richard Wagner Timeline
Richard Wagner by People
Richard Wagner was a renowned German composer, known for his dramatic operas and innovative use of music. Born in 1813, he revolutionized opera through his concept of the 'Gesamtkunstwerk,' or 'total work of art,' which combined music, poetry, drama, and visual arts. His most famous works include "The Ring of the Nibelung," a four-opera cycle, and "Tristan und Isolde," which are celebrated for their rich orchestration and complex themes. Despite controversy over his political views and personal life, Wagner's influence on music and culture is undeniable, shaping the future of classical music and inspiring countless artists.
May 22, 1813
Birth of Richard Wagner in Leipzig, Germany
This notable composer was born into a family with a strong love for the arts. His father, Friedrich, was a police actuary and his mother, Johanna, was a baker's daughter. His birthplace, Leipzig, was a vibrant center of culture and music in Germany.
October 1, 1831
Enrollment at Leipzig University to study music
The German composer enrolled at Leipzig University with the intention of studying music. Here, he was exposed to the works of Beethoven and Mozart, which greatly influenced his own compositions. His time at the university played a significant role in shaping his musical style and career.
Year 1833
First professional job as a conductor at the opera in Magdeburg
This German composer took up his initial professional role at the opera house in Magdeburg, a city in central Germany. His responsibilities included conducting the orchestra, a critical role in any opera production. This position marked the beginning of his influential career in music.
November 24, 1836
Marriage to actress Minna Planer
The marriage took place in Königsberg, where Wagner was serving as a musical director at the time. Minna Planer was a successful actress who had caught Wagner's attention. Their marriage, however, was marked by personal and financial difficulties.
October 20, 1842
Premiere of Wagner's opera 'Rienzi' in Dresden
The opera 'Rienzi' was Wagner's third to be completed and it was performed for the first time in Dresden. The story is set in Rome and is based on the life of Cola di Rienzi, a late medieval Italian populist figure. The opera was a success and helped to establish Wagner's reputation as a composer.
May 1, 1849
Exile to Switzerland due to involvement in the Dresden uprising
The composer had to flee Germany after participating in a failed rebellion against the government. He settled in Switzerland, where he lived in exile for about a decade. During this time, he wrote some of his most famous works.
June 28, 1850
Premiere of Wagner's opera 'Lohengrin' in Weimar
The premiere of 'Lohengrin' took place under the direction of Franz Liszt, a close friend of the composer. The opera, set in medieval Germany, is known for its rich orchestration and complex harmonies. It introduced the concept of leitmotif, a recurring musical theme associated with a particular character or idea, a technique that would become a signature of the composer's style.
March 12, 1862
Return to Germany after the banishment is lifted
The composer had been living in exile in Switzerland due to his involvement in the May Uprising in Dresden in 1849. When the ban was lifted, he returned to his homeland, where he continued to create some of his most famous works. His return marked a significant period in his career and the history of German music.
June 10, 1865
Premiere of Wagner's opera 'Tristan und Isolde' in Munich
The premiere of 'Tristan und Isolde' was conducted by Hans von Bülow, a respected German conductor. The opera, known for its complex harmonic language, was initially met with mixed reviews due to its unconventional style. However, it later became a cornerstone of the operatic repertoire.
August 25, 1870
Marriage to Cosima, daughter of Franz Liszt
The marriage took place in Lucerne, Switzerland. Cosima was 32 years old at the time, and had already borne Wagner two of their three children. The union lasted until the composer's death in 1883.
August 13, 1876
First Bayreuth Festival, showcasing Wagner's 'Ring Cycle'
The First Bayreuth Festival was a music event held in Germany, where the 'Ring Cycle', a series of four epic music dramas, was performed for the first time in its entirety. This festival was unique because it was specifically designed for the presentation of Wagner's works. The 'Ring Cycle' took around 15 hours to perform in total, spread over four days.
August 17, 1882
Premiere of Wagner's final opera 'Parsifal' at the second Bayreuth Festival
'Parsifal' is a three-act opera that was the last one Wagner completed. It was first performed at the Bayreuth Festival, a music festival in Germany dedicated to the performance of Wagner's operas. The opera is based on a medieval epic poem about a knight named Parsifal.
February 13, 1883
Death of Richard Wagner in Venice, Italy
The renowned composer passed away in Palazzo Vendramin, a 15th-century palace on the Grand Canal in Venice. His death was due to a heart attack. Wagner was in the midst of working on his final opera, Parsifal, at the time.
February 18, 1883
Burial at Bayreuth, Germany
The famous composer was laid to rest in the garden of his home, Villa Wahnfried, in Bayreuth. His burial followed his sudden death from a heart attack. Bayreuth was significant as it was where he had built an opera house specifically for performances of his own works.
Richard Wagner was a renowned German composer, known for his dramatic operas and innovative use of music. Born in 1813, he revolutionized opera through his concept of the 'Gesamtkunstwerk,' or 'total work of art,' which combined music, poetry, drama, and visual arts. His most famous works include "The Ring of the Nibelung," a four-opera cycle, and "Tristan und Isolde," which are celebrated for their rich orchestration and complex themes. Despite controversy over his political views and personal life, Wagner's influence on music and culture is undeniable, shaping the future of classical music and inspiring countless artists.
This notable composer was born into a family with a strong love for the arts. His father, Friedrich, was a police actuary and his mother, Johanna, was a baker's daughter. His birthplace, Leipzig, was a vibrant center of culture and music in Germany.
The German composer enrolled at Leipzig University with the intention of studying music. Here, he was exposed to the works of Beethoven and Mozart, which greatly influenced his own compositions. His time at the university played a significant role in shaping his musical style and career.
This German composer took up his initial professional role at the opera house in Magdeburg, a city in central Germany. His responsibilities included conducting the orchestra, a critical role in any opera production. This position marked the beginning of his influential career in music.
The marriage took place in Königsberg, where Wagner was serving as a musical director at the time. Minna Planer was a successful actress who had caught Wagner's attention. Their marriage, however, was marked by personal and financial difficulties.
The opera 'Rienzi' was Wagner's third to be completed and it was performed for the first time in Dresden. The story is set in Rome and is based on the life of Cola di Rienzi, a late medieval Italian populist figure. The opera was a success and helped to establish Wagner's reputation as a composer.
The composer had to flee Germany after participating in a failed rebellion against the government. He settled in Switzerland, where he lived in exile for about a decade. During this time, he wrote some of his most famous works.
The premiere of 'Lohengrin' took place under the direction of Franz Liszt, a close friend of the composer. The opera, set in medieval Germany, is known for its rich orchestration and complex harmonies. It introduced the concept of leitmotif, a recurring musical theme associated with a particular character or idea, a technique that would become a signature of the composer's style.
The composer had been living in exile in Switzerland due to his involvement in the May Uprising in Dresden in 1849. When the ban was lifted, he returned to his homeland, where he continued to create some of his most famous works. His return marked a significant period in his career and the history of German music.
The premiere of 'Tristan und Isolde' was conducted by Hans von Bülow, a respected German conductor. The opera, known for its complex harmonic language, was initially met with mixed reviews due to its unconventional style. However, it later became a cornerstone of the operatic repertoire.
The marriage took place in Lucerne, Switzerland. Cosima was 32 years old at the time, and had already borne Wagner two of their three children. The union lasted until the composer's death in 1883.
The First Bayreuth Festival was a music event held in Germany, where the 'Ring Cycle', a series of four epic music dramas, was performed for the first time in its entirety. This festival was unique because it was specifically designed for the presentation of Wagner's works. The 'Ring Cycle' took around 15 hours to perform in total, spread over four days.
'Parsifal' is a three-act opera that was the last one Wagner completed. It was first performed at the Bayreuth Festival, a music festival in Germany dedicated to the performance of Wagner's operas. The opera is based on a medieval epic poem about a knight named Parsifal.
The renowned composer passed away in Palazzo Vendramin, a 15th-century palace on the Grand Canal in Venice. His death was due to a heart attack. Wagner was in the midst of working on his final opera, Parsifal, at the time.
The famous composer was laid to rest in the garden of his home, Villa Wahnfried, in Bayreuth. His burial followed his sudden death from a heart attack. Bayreuth was significant as it was where he had built an opera house specifically for performances of his own works.