Almost Entirely Self-Taught
It was at the age of nine, when he was awed by the figure of Carl Maria von Weber conducting the orchestra for The Marksman (1821), that Wagner first wanted to become a composer. He found himself, however, unsuited to university classes and, after dropping out of school, studied composition theory under musicians from the local Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra (the world’s first private orchestra) and the cantor (organist and choir leader) at St. Thomas Church. Out in the real world, Wagner learned contemporary opera transcription, music arrangement, and other techniques needed for composing music.

A Perfect Stage of His Own
In 1864, King Ludwig II of Bavaria became Wagner’s patron. However, without the composer’s approval, the king previewed the prelude and the first act of The Ring of the Nibelung—Das Rheingold and Die Walkϋre respectively—on their own before the other acts were finished. It was this incident that prompted Wagner to have his own theater constructed, and in 1876, the Bayreuth Festival Theatre was completed. The Beyreuth Festival is still held at this theater in late July and August each year, when Wagnerians (as fans of Wagner are known) from around the world make the pilgrimage to Beyreuth.

Experiencing Wagner’s Vision of “Music Drama”
Wagner’s The Master-Singers of Nuremberg, one of his masterpieces, is a comedy that tells the story of Walter, a knight who aims to win a song contest so that he may marry his love Eva. In contrast to the songs sung by the mastersingers that follow a set of strict rules, Walter performs a bold and unconventional song. Wagner projects himself through the character of Walter as he advocates his vision of a new style of opera as music drama. This comedy is a good starting place for the Wagner beginner to glimpse the composer’s aspirations for his art.

Cooperation: Hideaki Mogami (Professor, Center for Educational Development and Support, Kagawa University)

Japanese original text: Yasuna Asano