Richard Wagner: Life and Impact (1813-1883)
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Questions and Answers

Rihards Vāgners was born on May 22, 1813, in ______.

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Vāgners lost his father at an early age and his mother remarried an actor named ______.

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Vāgners was one of the greatest reformers of ______.

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His first completed opera was titled ______.

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At the age of 20, Vāgners began working as a choir conductor in ______.

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From 1837 to 1839, he worked as the music director of the Rīga City ______ (Stadt Theater).

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Wagner completed the opera ______ while living in Paris from 1839 to 1842.

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He served as the conductor of the Dresden Court ______ from 1842 to 1849.

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To avoid arrest, Wagner was forced to flee to ______ after becoming involved in political activities.

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In 1876, Wagner's private opera house in ______ was inaugurated with a performance of 'Das Rheingold'.

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The main expressive medium in opera is the ______.

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A notable feature of opera is the inclusion of ______ and choirs.

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Wagner's orchestras are considered one of the greatest achievements of ______ music.

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The Siegfried's music drama is part of the Nibelung ______.

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The ______ tuba is a combination of a horn and a trombone.

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The character Tanheizer is based on ______ who lived in reality.

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The scenario of the opera involves a knight who regrets his actions in the realm of the goddess ______.

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Wagner's librettos are based on German ______ related to Tanheizer.

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The bass trumpet is a combination of a trumpet and a ______.

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Tanheizer’s story involves seeking ______ for his sins from the Pope.

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Study Notes

Richard Wagner (1813-1883)

  • German composer significantly impacting subsequent generations, especially in opera
  • One of the greatest opera reformers
  • Innovative composer
  • Author and playwright of his own operas
  • Leading conductor
  • Music critic and publicist
  • Theorist of his art form
  • Complex and contradictory figure
  • Born May 22, 1813, Leipzig, Germany
  • Died February 13, 1883, Venice, Italy
  • Parents: Johanna and Karl Friedrich Wagner (police official)
  • Ninth child in the family
  • Father died young
  • Mother remarried to actor Ludwig Geyer, moving to Dresden
  • Early exposure to the theatre
  • Studied at Kreuzschule in Dresden (from 1821)
  • Studied music with various private teachers in Leipzig
  • Studied harmony and conducting under Christian Gottlieb Miller (1828-1831)
  • Held conducting positions in Würzburg and Magdeburg
  • Worked as a chapel master in Königsberg (1836)
  • Held music director positions in Riga from 1837 to 1839
  • Married Christine Wilhelmine Planer (Minna) in 1836
  • Composed first completed Symphony in D major at 19 years old
  • Studied at Leipzig University alongside composition studies (1831)
  • Lived in Würzburg and Magdeburg in his early adulthood
  • Lived in Königsberg as a chapel master (1836)
  • Held positions in Riga (1837-1839)
  • Spent time in Paris (1839-1842) earning a living through writing and copying scores for other composers
  • Lived in Dresden as the court opera conductor (1842-1849)
  • Forced to flee to Switzerland for political reasons (1849)
  • Lived in Zurich and Lucerne
  • Family moved to Triebschen villa (1864), where he founded the Bayreuth Festspielhaus
  • Founded the Bayreuth Festival
  • Married Cosima von Bülow in 1870
  • Founded the Bayreuth Festival Theatre, which opened in 1876
  • Lived in Bayreuth with his family until his death in 1883
  • Buried in Bayreuth

Wagner's Notable Works

  • Included numerous operas, including The Ring of the Nibelungs, Tristan und Isolde, Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg, and Parsifal.
  • Known for innovative musical language that challenged conventions at time

Wagner's Style

  • Emphasis on orchestral richness and complexity
  • Use of leitmotifs
  • Combination of music and drama
  • Use of larger orchestra with significant importance placed on brass and wind instruments
  • Operatic works
  • Orchestral works
  • Music dramas

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Description

Explore the life of Richard Wagner, a German composer whose innovative contributions to opera have left a lasting impact on music history. From his beginnings in Leipzig to his pivotal role as a composer, conductor, and theorist, learn about the complexities of this influential figure. The quiz examines his early life, career milestones, and lasting legacy in the world of opera.

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