Richard Wagner Popular Songs Ranking [2026]

The Ride Of The ValkyriesRichard Wagner8rank/position

Richard Wagner – Ride of The Valkyries

A popular track used as the prelude to Act 3, “Die Walküre,” from the opera Der Ring des Nibelungen.

It was composed by the German composer Richard Wagner.

It is featured in an Amazon Prime Fire TV Stick commercial starring British television presenter Jeremy Clarkson.

Prelude to Act III from LohengrinRichard Wagner9rank/position

Wagner Prelude to Act3 from Lohengrin

Lohengrin is one of the knights who appears in the legend of King Arthur.

He is the hero who arrived in a swan-drawn boat to rescue a princess who was about to be ensnared by intrigue.

This prelude is a highly brilliant piece performed at the beginning of Act III, which opens with the wedding scene of the princess.

If you listen closely to the oboe toward the end, you can hear the melody of the famous Bridal Chorus that follows.

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Procession to Elsa’s CathedralRichard Wagner10rank/position

Wagner (arr. Hiroshi Hoshina) Elsa’s Procession to the Cathedral from Lohengrin

It is a piece filled with the mystery of love and prayer.

Its magnificent melody and solemn atmosphere leave a deep impression on the listener’s heart.

Through the music, you can feel the heroine’s emotions as she approaches a sacred ritual.

Composed in 1848 by the German-born Richard Wagner, this piece depicts a scene from the opera Lohengrin.

It is often used in wedding scenes in films and TV dramas and is perfect for expressing pure love.

It’s recommended for times when your heart feels unsettled or when you want to quietly reflect on yourself.

Wrapped in its graceful tones, you’re likely to spend a calm, peaceful time.

Elegy in A-flat major, WWV 93Richard Wagner11rank/position

Richard Wagner – Elegy for piano in A flat, WWV 93

The piano miniature Elegy in A-flat major, WWV 93, left by the innovative German composer Richard Wagner, shines with a distinctly unique charm even among his extensive body of work.

This simple and gentle piano piece shares a harmonic language with his music drama Tristan und Isolde and can be considered a valuable work for delving into the depths of Wagner’s musical world.

This brief and moving melody—something unimaginable from his grand operas—reveals its true worth in silence.

It is recommended for moments of relaxation or self-reflection, and even as an entry point into classical music.

Elsa’s Procession to the Cathedral from Act 2 of the opera LohengrinRichard Wagner12rank/position

[Wind Ensemble] Procession to the Cathedral of Elsa – Fukuoka Institute of Technology Joto High School.

This piece begins with a majestic melody and gradually builds in exhilaration.

It is also highly popular in the wind ensemble repertoire.

The pure lines of the woodwinds leave a strong impression, and as the chorale-like theme is repeated, the instrumentation and dynamics expand step by step.

Depicting Elsa’s procession to the cathedral for her wedding, it conveys both purity and anticipation for marriage.

Since its premiere on August 28, 1850, it has continued to captivate many listeners.

It is a recommended work not only for opera fans but also for wind band enthusiasts.

A true masterpiece for anyone who wants to savor a solemn atmosphere and beautiful melodies.

“Ride of the Valkyries,” Act 3 from the opera The ValkyrieRichard Wagner13rank/position

[4,000,000 Views] Wagner: Ride of the Valkyries — Karajan conducting / Bayreuth Festival Orchestra (1951)

Also known as “Ride of the Valkyries,” this piece by Richard Wagner is very famous.

The greatest opera composer of the late Romantic era is the German Wagner, who sought a total work of art that unifies theater, literature, and music.

This piece, included in The Ring of the Nibelung, is performed at the beginning of Act III and depicts the Valkyries, including Brünnhilde, gathering the souls of fallen warriors on the battlefield.

The curtain rises immediately, and to the music, eight Valkyries gather on a rocky mountaintop, crying out.

The woodwinds’ tremolo and the strings’ upward runs heighten the tension, and the horns and trumpets play that famous melody.

It’s a piece that raises the performers’ adrenaline as well when played by an orchestra.

Siegfried Idyll in E major, WWV 103 (1870)Richard Wagner14rank/position

Wagner – Siegfried Idyll (Proms 2012)

Siegfried Idyll was composed by Richard Wagner as a birthday and Christmas gift for his wife, Cosima.

“Siegfried” refers to Wagner’s son, Siegfried Wagner, and the piece was written to express appreciation and gratitude to Cosima, who bore him.

Because it was conceived as intimate domestic music, it was not originally intended for public performance; however, upon its publication in 1878 it became popular and brought financial relief to the Wagner household—a work truly made for the family.

As an idyll, it contains no turbulent passages and is a masterpiece that showcases the beautiful timbres of the instruments.

You may be moved to tears by the interplay between the string ensemble and the occasional long tones and solos of the winds.

It is a Wagner masterpiece that invites calm and peaceful listening.