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!
- [Masterpiece Classics] A special showcase of gem-like masterpieces so beautiful they’ll move you to tears
- Famous opera masterpieces | Featuring many great opera singers
- Masterpieces by Gustav Mahler. Popular classical music.
- A comprehensive introduction to the piano works left by the ‘King of Music Drama,’ Richard Wagner!
- A masterpiece by Richard Strauss. Popular classical music.
- [Orchestra] Introducing famous and popular pieces
- [Weber] Masterpieces by the founder of German opera
- Elgar’s masterpiece. Popular classical music.
- [Recommended] Carefully selected masterpieces by Bruckner, the great master of symphonies and sacred music
- Masterpieces of the Romantic Era: A sweeping introduction to soul-stirring, celebrated gems!
- Classical Masterpieces: Recommended Works You Should Hear at Least Once
- Berlioz’s famous piece. Popular classical music.
- A masterpiece by Franz Liszt. Popular classical music.
Masterpieces by Richard Wagner. Popular classical music (1–10)
Siegfried Idyll in E major, WWV 103 (1870)Richard Wagner
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.
Faust Overture in D minor, WWV 59 (1839/40)Richard Wagner
This is a concert overture inspired by Faust, the masterpiece by Germany’s great poet Johann Wolfgang von Goethe.
It opens with a gentle introduction, featuring an impressive dialogue between the tuba’s weighty motif and the strings.
In the main section, a first theme with chromatic contours and a bright second theme unfold, creating highly dramatic music.
The modulation from D minor to D major symbolizes a passage from darkness to light, portraying Faust’s inner conflict and quest of the soul through sound.
Premiered in Dresden in July 1844, it fell into neglect until Liszt revived it in 1852.
This work is an important piece that showcases Richard Wagner’s dramatic expressivity and masterful orchestration.
It is recommended for those interested in Goethe’s literature or seeking to understand Wagner’s musical development.
Liebestod (Love-Death) from the music drama Tristan und IsoldeRichard Wagner
This is the famous climactic scene that concludes Richard Wagner’s representative music drama Tristan und Isolde.
Known as a piece that portrays the union of love and death, it is sung by Isolde beside Tristan’s lifeless body.
Through chromatic harmonic progressions and rich orchestration, the characters’ profound emotions are expressed with remarkable vividness.
Premiered in Munich in June 1865, the work had a profound impact on later generations with its innovative musical language.
It is a highly recommended piece for those captivated by grand narratives themed on love, death, and redemption, and by the compositional techniques that so brilliantly render them in music.
Prelude to Act I from the music drama “Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg”Richard Wagner
This is the prelude to the masterpiece by Richard Wagner, one of Germany’s most representative composers—a music drama that depicts a grand story.
Composed in 1862, the work is distinguished by the Guild theme, the Mastersingers’ march, and the love theme.
Lasting about ten minutes, it captivates listeners with beautiful melodies woven by the orchestra’s rich sonorities.
The piece explores universal themes of musical and poetic tradition, as well as the rise of new talent.
Its tale of love and art, and the tension between tradition and innovation, resonates deeply with audiences.
It is recommended not only for classical music enthusiasts but also for those interested in human drama.
Procession to the Cathedral of Elsa, from Act II of the opera LohengrinRichard Wagner
From Act II of the opera Lohengrin: Elsa’s Procession to the Cathedral.
This is the music accompanying Elsa as she proceeds to the chapel for her wedding ceremony, with a beautifully alluring melody that sets the heart racing.
Though originally for orchestra, it is often performed in wind band arrangements, making it familiar to many former band members—a masterpiece by Richard Wagner.
It drew attention on Nippon TV’s “Waratte Koraete!” during the 2010 Brass Band Journey project, where the revered “god of wind bands,” Professor Isao Yahiku, famously had his students play this piece at the end of every club practice.
It is sung at a slow tempo and concludes with a grand, majestic atmosphere.
The cymbals add a wonderfully distinctive color.
It’s an ideal piece for those who wish to express emotional pain through music or who want to experience Mahler’s musical world.
Prelude to Act 3 of the music drama “Die Walküre,” “Ride of the Valkyries”Richard Wagner
This is “Ride of the Valkyries,” the prelude to Act 3 of the music drama Die Walküre composed by Richard Wagner, known as a stylish, film-score-like classical work.
“Valkyries” refers to multiple demigoddesses in Norse mythology, meaning “choosers of the slain.” The piece is famous for its use in the film Apocalypse Now and in commercials, so even people who haven’t seen the opera Die Walküre itself may still recognize this music.
When the woodwinds tremolo, the strings surge upward, and the horns enter, the excitement ramps up! The power of the brass is the lifeblood of this piece!
Symphony in C major, WWV 29 (1832)Richard Wagner
Richard Wagner, known by the epithet “the King of Music Drama,” also left behind a fine symphonic work.
There aren’t many, but this symphony is in C major, bright in character, has four movements, and at about 40 minutes in length it is fairly typical of the symphonic form.
Only the second movement is in A minor, giving it a darker atmosphere, while the other movements are all written in C major, making this Wagner’s only symphony.
Perhaps because his image is so strongly tied to music drama, it is seldom performed, but it is a hidden gem of Wagner’s.
If you belong to a student orchestra or an amateur orchestra, why not consider it as a repertoire option?
