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 | Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg: Prelude Act 3 | Masters of Classical Music, Vol. 5 |
| 2 | OUVERTURE and BACCHANALE | ORCHESTRAL WORKS |
| 3 | Act 1 Vorspiel | Siegfried 1 - Wagner; Solti; Vienna Philharmonic |
| 4 | 1 | Die Walküre 2 (Der Ring des Nibelungen) |
| 5 | Siegfried, Act II, Scene 3, II, Was ihr mir nützt, | Siegfried, Disc 3, Act II, Scenes 2b-3, Act III, S |
| 6 | 22. Act I, Scene III / Brünnhild'! Ein Freier kam | Götterdämmerung - Solti - Wiener Philharmoniker - |
| 7 | 32. Act II, Scene IV / Helle Wehr! Heilige Waffe! | Götterdämmerung - Solti - Wiener Philharmoniker - |
| 8 | Lohengrin: Prelude | Masters of Classical Music, Vol. 5 |
| 9 | Das Rheingold; Zweite Szene | Wagner: Das Rheingold |
| 10 | 07. Prologue / Siegfrieds Rheinfahrt | Götterdämmerung - Solti - Wiener Philharmoniker - |
| 11 | Siegfried, Act I, Scene I, I, Zwangvolle Plage! Mü | Siegfried, Disc 1, Act I, Scenes 1-3a |
| 12 | Act 1 Sc 1c: Da hast du die Stuecken, schaendliche | Siegfried 1 - Wagner; Solti; Vienna Philharmonic |
| 13 | Siegfried, Act III, Scene 3, V, Dort seh' ich Gran | Siegfried, Disc 4, Act III, Scenes 1b-3 |
| 14 | Siegfried, Act III, Scene 1, II, Stark ruft das Li | Siegfried, Disc 3, Act II, Scenes 2b-3, Act III, S |
| 15 | Götterdämmerung; Dritter Aufzug | Wagner: Der Ring des Nibelungen, Dritter Tag - Götterdämmerung |
| 16 | Siegfried, Act II, Scene 1, V, Nun, Alberich, das | Siegfried, Disc 2, Act I, Scene 3b, Act II, Scenes |
| 17 | Siegfried; Dritter Aufzug | Wagner: Der Ring des Nibelungen, Dritter Tag - Götterdämmerung |
| 18 | Act I, Scene II / Blühenden Lebens labendes Bl | Götterdämmerung - Solti - Wiener Philharmoniker - |
| 19 | Das Rheingold, Scene 4, IV, Fasolt und Fafner nahe | Das Rheingold, Disc 2, Scenes 3 & 4 |
| 20 | 1 | Die Walküre 2 (Der Ring des Nibelungen) |