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Richard Wagner (1813-1883)

Donald Macleod follows Wagner's journey towards building the Bayreuth Festival

Donald Macleod follows Wagner's journey towards building the Bayreuth Festival.

This week, Donald Macleod follows Wagner on his decades-long journey to realise his dream of building his own music theatre, and establishing a festival there dedicated to his music. We see how Wagner鈥檚 revolutionary ideas and vaulting ambition struggled against the reality of securing supporters, raising finances, and inspiring audiences.

Music Featured:

Das Rheingold, Scene 1: 鈥淟ugt, Schwestern! Die Weckerin lach in den Grund鈥
Prelude to Die Meistersinger von N眉rnberg
Tannh盲user: Act 3 Scene 1: 鈥淎llm盲cht鈥檊e Jungfrau, h枚r mein Flehen!鈥 and Scene 2 鈥淥 du, mein holder, Abendstern鈥
Lohengrin: Prelude to Act III
Tristan and Isolde: Prelude and Liebestod
Das Rheingold: End of Scene 3 鈥淥he! Ohe! Schreckliche Schlange鈥︹
Die Walk眉re: Act 2, 鈥淗inweg! Hinweg! Flieh die Entwihte!...鈥
Tannhauser: Act 2 Finale
Lohengrin: Act 3, 鈥淚n fernem Land鈥
Das Rheingold, Scene 4, Finale (Entry of the Gods into Valhalla)
Lohengrin: Act 3, 鈥淭reulich gef眉hrt ziehet dahin鈥 (Bridal March)
Tristan and Isolde: Act 2, 鈥淥 sink hernieder, Nacht der Liebe鈥︹ (Love duet)
Die Walk眉re, Act 3 opening (The Ride of the Valkyries)
Siegfried: Act 3, 鈥淢it zerfochtner Waffe wich mir der Feige鈥
Gotterd盲mmerung: Prologue, Sunrise and Siegfried鈥檚 Rhine Journey
Siegfried: Act 3, 鈥淗eil dir, Sonne! Heil dir, Licht!鈥 (Br眉nhilde鈥檚 awakening)
Die Walk眉re: Act III, Wotan鈥檚 Farewell and Magic Fire Music
G枚tterd盲mmerung: Siegfried鈥檚 Funeral March
G枚tterd盲mmerung: "Starke Scheite schichtet mir dort鈥 (Brunhilde鈥檚 Immolation Scene)
Die Meistersinger von N眉rnberg: Act 3, Scene 5 鈥淢orgenlich Leuchtend鈥 (Walther鈥檚 Prize Song)
Parsifal: Prelude to Act 1
Parsifal: Act 1, Entry to the knight鈥檚 castle
Meistersinger: Act 3, Scene 4, 鈥淪elig wie die Sonne鈥 (Quintet)
Parsifal: Act 2, Scene 2 (Klingsor鈥檚 magic garden)
Parsifal 鈥 Good Friday Music

Presented by Donald Macleod
Produced by Chris Taylor, for 大象传媒 Cymru Wales

For full track listings, including artist and recording details, and to listen to the pieces featured in full (for 30 days after broadcast) head to the series page for Richard Wagner (1813-1883) /programmes/m0010040

And you can delve into the A-Z of all the composers we鈥檝e featured on Composer of the Week here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/3cjHdZlXwL7W41XGB77X3S0/composers-a-to-z

Release date:

Available now

1 hour, 8 minutes

Podcast