1813-1883

Wilhelm “Richard” Wagner

EARLY LIFE

Richard Wagner was born on

May 22, 1813, in the small

German town of Leipzig

When he was six moths of

age Wagner's father died.

He was adopted by play

write Ludwig Geyer, He was

know until he was 14 as

Wilhelm Richard Geyer.

Early Music Ambitions He enjoyed playing

music by ear At 13 his first creative

effort as a play write was the tragedy Leubald.

He was enrolled in a musical program at the University of Leipzig

Personal Life

On November 24 of 1836 he wed Christine Wilhelmine Planer

They parted ways 1862

In 1865 he had an illegitimate daughter by Cosmia von Bülow

Legacy

Wagner is most noted for his Operas.

Some of his most famous pieces are “Tristan and Isolde”, and “Ring”

Was a prolific writer, he wrote hundreds of books, poems, and journals

“Lohengrin”Known as Wagner’s most popular operaThe opera was based off the legends of the

Knight of the Swan. Wagner used the term “Music Drama” to

describe this work.