Image Source: Wikipedia

Richard Wagner

Wilhelm Richard Wagner ( VAHG-nər; German: [ˈʁɪçaʁt ˈvaːɡnɐ] (listen); 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 mature 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 – particularly, 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.

Birth and Death Data: Born May 22, 1813 (Leipzig), Died February 13, 1883 (Venice)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1896 - 1948

Roles Represented in DAHR: composer

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings (Results 1-25 of 1202 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Berliner 98 7-in. 2/4/1898 Kaiser march Banda Rossa Band composer  
Berliner 232 7-in. Before June 1896 Evening star W. Paris Chambers Cornet solo composer  
Berliner 835 7-in. Before Apr. 1899 Bridal march Chambers’ Brass Quartette Brass quartet composer  
Berliner 1585 7-in. Before Apr. 1899 Der abendstern W. C. Deusing Baritone vocal solo composer  
Berliner 1847 7-in. Before Oct. 1898 Evening star Alberto Del Campo Baritone vocal solo composer  
Berliner 0215 7-in. 6/10/1899 Nibelungen march Sousa's Band Band composer  
Berliner 0633 7-in. 10/13/1899 Der abendstern Carl Bernhard Male vocal solo composer  
Berliner 01095 7-in. 3/14/1900 Tannhäuser : March Royal Italian Band Band composer  
Victor [Pre-matrix A-]600 7-in. 1/7/1901 Bridal march Moereman's Woodwind Quartet Woodwind quartet composer  
Victor [Pre-matrix A-]638 7-in. 1/26/1901 Bridal chorus Kendle's First Regiment Band Band composer  
Victor [Pre-matrix B-]638 10-in. 5/6/1902 Bridal chorus Kendle's First Regiment Band Band composer  
Victor [Pre-matrix A-]1766 7-in. 11/14/1902 Tannhäuser : March Clarke's Band of Providence Band composer  
Victor [Pre-matrix B-]1766 10-in. 11/14/1902 March Clarke's Band of Providence Band composer  
Victor [Pre-matrix A-]1905 7-in. 1/16/1903 O du mein holder Abendstern William Paull Baritone vocal solo composer  
Victor [Pre-matrix D-]2030 14-in. 1903 Fantasia Victor Grand Concert Band Band composer  
Victor [Pre-matrix A-]2069[a] 7-in. 3/9/1903 Nibelungen march Victor Band Band composer  
Victor [Pre-matrix B-]2069[a] 10-in. 3/9/1903 Nibelungen march Victor Band Band composer  
Victor [Pre-matrix B-]3234 10-in. 4/3/1901 Lohengrin selections Sousa's Band Band composer  
Victor [Pre-matrix B-]3257 10-in. 4/5/1901 Reminiscences of Wagner Sousa's Band Band composer  
Victor [Pre-matrix B-]3258 10-in. 4/5/1901 Selections from Lohengrin and Tannhauser Sousa's Band Band composer  
Victor [Pre-matrix B-]3623 10-in. 1/6/1902 Knights of the Holy Grail Sousa's Band Band composer  
Victor [Pre-matrix C-]31099 12-in. either 1901 or 1902 Rienzi overture Sousa's Band Band composer  
Victor A-316 7-in. 8/19/1903 Lohengrin : Selections Sousa's Band Band composer  
Victor B-316 10-in. 8/19/1903 Lohengrin : Selections Sousa's Band Band composer  
Victor C-316 12-in. 8/27/1903 Lohengrin : Selections Sousa's Band Band composer  
(Results 1-25 of 1202 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Wagner, Richard," accessed March 18, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/102472.

Wagner, Richard. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved March 18, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/102472.

"Wagner, Richard." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 18 March 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/102472

Wikipedia content provided under the terms of the Creative Commons BY-SA license

Feedback

Send the Editors a message about this record.