Richard Wagner (1813-1883)

Donald Macleod follows Wagner's journey towards building the Bayreuth Festival.

This week, Donald Macleod follows Wagner on his decades-long journey to realise his dream of building his own music theatre, and establishing a festival there dedicated to his music. We see how Wagner’s revolutionary ideas and vaulting ambition struggled against the reality of securing supporters, raising finances, and inspiring audiences.

Music Featured:

Das Rheingold, Scene 1: “Lugt, Schwestern! Die Weckerin lach in den Grund” Prelude to Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg Tannhäuser: Act 3 Scene 1: “Allmächt’ge Jungfrau, hör mein Flehen!” and Scene 2 “O du, mein holder, Abendstern” Lohengrin: Prelude to Act III Tristan and Isolde: Prelude and Liebestod Das Rheingold: End of Scene 3 “Ohe! Ohe! Schreckliche Schlange…“ Die Walküre: Act 2, “Hinweg! Hinweg! Flieh die Entwihte!...” Tannhauser: Act 2 Finale Lohengrin: Act 3, “In fernem Land” Das Rheingold, Scene 4, Finale (Entry of the Gods into Valhalla) Lohengrin: Act 3, “Treulich geführt ziehet dahin” (Bridal March) Tristan and Isolde: Act 2, “O sink hernieder, Nacht der Liebe…” (Love duet) Die Walküre, Act 3 opening (The Ride of the Valkyries) Siegfried: Act 3, “Mit zerfochtner Waffe wich mir der Feige” Gotterdämmerung: Prologue, Sunrise and Siegfried’s Rhine Journey Siegfried: Act 3, “Heil dir, Sonne! Heil dir, Licht!” (Brünhilde’s awakening) Die Walküre: Act III, Wotan’s Farewell and Magic Fire Music Götterdämmerung: Siegfried’s Funeral March Götterdämmerung: "Starke Scheite schichtet mir dort“ (Brunhilde’s Immolation Scene) Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg: Act 3, Scene 5 “Morgenlich Leuchtend” (Walther’s Prize Song) Parsifal: Prelude to Act 1 Parsifal: Act 1, Entry to the knight’s castle Meistersinger: Act 3, Scene 4, “Selig wie die Sonne” (Quintet) Parsifal: Act 2, Scene 2 (Klingsor’s magic garden) Parsifal – Good Friday Music

Presented by Donald Macleod Produced by Chris Taylor, for BBC Cymru Wales

For full track listings, including artist and recording details, and to listen to the pieces featured in full (for 30 days after broadcast) head to the series page for Richard Wagner (1813-1883) https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0010040

And you can delve into the A-Z of all the composers we’ve featured on Composer of the Week here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/3cjHdZlXwL7W41XGB77X3S0/composers-a-to-z