Guide to Wagner’s Works: Introduction

Here you can find a rough map of the main terrain of Richard Wagner’s life and work. In early chapters of Wagnerism, I provide introductions to the major music dramas, beginning with the Ring; but I know that some readers will have many more questions as they go along. Excerpts from historic recordings are graciously provided by Andrew Rose, proprietor of the superb site Pristine Classical. Those wishing for page-by-page audio examples can go to the Audiovisual Companion.

1. Early years

2. The Flying Dutchman

3. Tannhäuser

4. Lohengrin

5. Genesis of the Ring and Das Rheingold

6. Die Walküre

7. Siegfried

8. Götterdämmerung

9. Tristan und Isolde

10. Die Meistersinger

11. Parsifal