Richard Wagner (1813 – 1883)

You don't have to be a fan of classical music to know who Richard Wagner is. You've passively connected with his work if you've ever sang 'Here Comes the Bride' (from Wagner's Lohengrin) or seen the helicopter attack scene from Apocalypse Now including Ride of the Valkyries.

These are just two examples of Wagner's profound influence on Western music. He elevated the operatic form by experimenting with complex harmonic structures and orchestration, as well as producing epic, large-scale works like The Flying Dutchman.

He even advocated for the concept of Gesamtkunstwerk, which translates to "whole work of art." This was a reaction to what Wagner saw as the limited nature of Italian opera and aimed to blend music and drama.

Wagner's work, despite being German, can be defined as pan-European due to its universal appeal. This is demonstrated by the Bayreuth Celebration, an annual festival dedicated solely to his works that attract tourists from all over the world.

However, it's reasonable to assume that not everyone during his career was a 'Wagnerian.' He was dubbed an "ancient poisoner" by Debussy, and he had a long-running feud with his compatriot Brahms known as "The War of the Romantics."

Regardless of his peers' feelings toward him, no one could dispute Wagner's influence in the mid-to late-eighteenth century and beyond.

Nationality: German