A masterpiece by Richard Wagner. Popular classical music.
We’ve put together a collection of masterpieces by Richard Wagner, the 19th-century German composer known as the “King of Music Drama”! He wrote the librettos for most of his own operas and was known not only as a composer but also as a man of letters, making him one of the figures who exerted broad influence across Europe in the latter half of the 19th century.
True to his title as the King of Music Drama, he wrote a great many music dramas; however, he also left works such as the Symphony in C major, as well as numerous piano pieces and songs.
Those familiar with wind bands may recognize Wagner’s name from “Elsa’s Procession to the Cathedral.” This time, we’ve selected some of Wagner’s greatest works.
Please give them a listen!
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- Masterpieces by Gustav Mahler. Popular classical music.
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- Elgar’s masterpiece. Popular classical music.
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- Berlioz’s famous piece. Popular classical music.
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Masterpieces by Richard Wagner: Popular Classical Music (71–80)
“Ride of the Valkyries” from the opera “Die Walküre”Richard Wagner
You often hear this piece on variety shows and the like.
It is the overture to Act III of Wagner’s music drama Die Walküre, composed in 1856.
“Valkyries” refers to multiple demi-goddesses from Norse mythology; in Japanese they’re sometimes called war goddesses.
This piece serves as the prelude to the scene where the Valkyries, mounted on winged horses and armed with shields and spears, race across the sky to carry the souls of fallen soldiers back to a rocky mountaintop.
The Ride Of The ValkyriesRichard Wagner
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.
From Act 3, Scene 5 of the music drama ‘Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg’Richard Wagner
From Act 3, Scene 5 of the music drama The Mastersingers of Nuremberg.
In this scene, Walther sings splendidly “Morning Shone Rosy” (Walther’s Prize Song), receives thunderous applause from the crowd, and becomes the winner.
The tenor is Johan Botha, a singer from Rustenburg, South Africa.
Prelude to Act I of the music drama ‘Parsifal’Richard Wagner
The Prelude to Act I from the sacred festival drama Parsifal.
An opera written for King Ludwig II of Bavaria.
It is set at Montsalvat Castle and Klingsor’s castle in medieval Spain.
Performed by the Wagner Project Nagoya Orchestra, conducted by Hiroshi Misawa.
Winter Storms Have Passed from Act 1 of the music drama The ValkyrieRichard Wagner
From The Valkyrie, Act I, “Inside the Hall,” Scene 3, “Winter storms have passed,” from The Ring of the Nibelung, First Day of the Stage Festival Drama.
The duet scene of Siegmund’s “Song of Spring and Love” and Sieglinde’s “You yourself are Spring,” performed by Peter Hofmann and Jeannine Altmeyer.
Prelude to Act III from the opera ‘Lohengrin’Richard Wagner
Prelude to Act 3 from the opera Lohengrin.
The tempo is molto vivace, giving it a lively and exhilarating character.
The performance is by the West–Eastern Divan Orchestra, which was founded by conductor Daniel Barenboim and scholar Edward Said.
In Duchess M(ettenich)’s Album in C major, WWV 94Richard Wagner
Richard Wagner is renowned for his operas and music dramas, but in Album Leaf in C major, WWV 94 (for the Duchess of M[etternich]), he reveals another side.
Composed in 1861 and published about a decade later, this piano piece was dedicated to Princess Pauline von Metternich, who supported the Paris production of Tannhäuser.
Beyond its artistic merit, the work strongly conveys human sentiments such as gratitude and respect.
It is a beautiful, heartwarming piece that I highly recommend both to those who wish to delve deeper into Wagner’s music and to listeners who don’t usually listen to piano works.