Wagner’s Opera: Drama Over Music

Wagner’s operas are often criticized for being too long and too focused on the music, rather than the drama. However, there are many examples of where the music enhances the drama, and vice versa.

Introduction

Wagner’s Opera: Drama Over Music is a book that explores the unique and often misunderstood style of opera created by legendary composer Richard Wagner. In this book, famous opera singer and musicologist Jon Fredricson takes readers on a journey through Wagner’s life and works, explaining how the composer created such a revolutionary form of musical theatre. With access to previously unseen documents and rare recordings, Fredricson gives readers an intimate look at the man behind some of the most famous operas ever written, including The Flying Dutchman, Lohengrin, and, of course, The Ring Cycle.

Wagner’s Life

Wagner was born in Leipzig in 1813, the ninth child of Carl Friedrich Wagner, a clerk in the Leipzig police service, and his wife, Johanna Rosine Wagner née Paetz. In 1814 the family moved to Dorothea Wilhelmine’s house in Noethen. He received his first musical education at home; despite his father’s obvious disapproval[6] There Wagner was taught to play the piano and organ by his mother.[7]

Drama would always be a major interest of Wagner’s, and would come to revolutionsize both opera itself, as well as orchestral music drama. Encouraged by his mother, Wagner attempted to learn acting, first taking private lessons with Christian Friedrich Schneider (1786–1853), a respected actor and teacher at Leipzig’s Thomas School.[8][9] Schneider was unimpressed by the young Wagner’s acting skills, stating that he lacked cream and presence for the stage.[10][11] Nevertheless decided that he might do better as an opera composer; inspired by Carl Maria von Weber’s Opera Der Freischütz (1817), he began work on his own first opera Das Liebesverbot (“The Ban on Love”), which he finished in 1836.

Wagner’s Operas

Wagner’s operas are known for their complex and dramatic storytelling, often with more emphasis on the drama than the music. This approach to opera was Wagner’s trademark, and it has led to some of the most famous and well-loved operas in the repertoire. Wagner’s operas often deal with ambitious themes and large-scale stories, making them some of the most epic and grandiose works in all of opera.

Wagner and Music

It is widely accepted that Wagner was a musical genius. He completely changed the sound and style of opera, creating works that are still popular today. However, Wagner’s operas are also known for their length, and some people find them difficult to sit through. Is Wagner’s music really worth the time?

Wagner’s operas are certainly different from what came before. He favored long, Continuous melodies instead of shorter, stand-alone ones. He also relied heavily on leitmotifs, or recurring themes, to link his works together. This created a more cohesive sound, but it also made Wagner’s operas much longer than those of his contemporaries.

Wagner was also a master of orchestration, and his use of instruments was highly innovative. He is credited with inventing the Wagner tuba, which is now used in many symphony orchestras. His music is sometimes criticized for being too dense and “overblown,” but it is always highly effective in creating the desired emotional effect.

Ultimately, whether or not you enjoy Wagner’s music depends on your personal taste. If you are patient and willing to give his operas a chance, you may find yourself entranced by their beauty and power.

Wagner and Drama

Wagner’s opera is a perfect example of how music and drama can work together to create a unforgettable experience.

Wagner was a master of using music to create mood and atmosphere. He carefully crafted his melodies and rhythms to support the drama unfolding on stage. The result was an opera that was both emotionally powerful and musically sophisticated.

While Wagner’s music is certainly the star of the show, it would be nothing without the drama provided by the singers and actors. The two elements work together to create a truly unique form of entertainment.

Conclusion

The question of whether Wagner’s opera is primarily a work of drama or music has been debated for many years. While there are valid arguments to be made for both positions, it seems clear that, for Wagner himself, the drama was always the most important element. In his own words, “The music is, as it were, only there to support the drama.” This statement makes it clear that Wagner saw the music as subordinate to the drama, and it is this belief that seems to have informed his entire approach to opera.