Richard Wagner was widely proclaimed to be the greatest composer of his time.
His staging of the Ring performances, produced in a venue in Germany
built especially to his specifications, was a worldwide sensation. Not bad for
a man with a penchant for dueling, gambling and running up gigantic debts he
never repaid. Wagner was inspired by poetry and drama as a boy, and originally
wanted to be a playwright. Instead, he ended up creating a music and philosophy
that influenced generations of poets and playwrights. For more information on
this artist, consult the web resources below. |
2002 McGraw-Hill Higher Education