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.