Many—perhaps, most–of the respected and honored composers left little of themselves behind to speak for them except their immortal music. And that’s usually enough. But no great composer found the time to write, speculate, theorize, philosophize, and generally inflict his ideas expressed through the written word...
“Ride of the Valkyries” from Die Walküre
The works of Wagner and Giuseppe Verdi together largely dominated the important world of nineteenth-century opera. But the two could not have been more different in almost every regard—save that of musical excellence. Verdi built simply upon the traditional elements of Italian opera and took them to new heights of...
“Wotan’s Farewell and Magic Fire Music” from Die Walküre
The works of Wagner and Giuseppe Verdi together largely dominated the important world of nineteenth-century opera. But the two could not have been more different in almost every regard—save that of musical excellence. Verdi built simply upon the traditional elements of Italian opera and took them to new heights of...
Overture to The Flying Dutchman
The works of Wagner and Giuseppe Verdi together largely dominated the important world of nineteenth-century opera. But the two could not have been more different in almost every regard—save that of musical excellence. Verdi built simply upon the traditional elements of Italian opera and took them to new heights of dramatic artistry and coherence, gradually incorporating some progressive reforms...
Prelude to Act III of Lohengrin
Lohengrin was first performed in 1850, and is certainly a Romantic opera in the strictest sense. It is based upon the legendary romance of the 13th century of Lohengrin, a knight of the Holy Grail, who is sent in a boat pulled by swans to rescue the maiden, Elsa, who must never ask his name. The young King Ludwig...
Prelude to Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg
Many—perhaps, most–of the respected and honored composers left little of themselves behind to speak for them except their immortal music. And that’s usually enough. But no great composer found the time to write, speculate, theorize, philosophize, and generally inflict his ideas expressed through the written word...