But as one commentator has said: “forget about the stories and the politics, the music is what matters most”. Wagner’s impact on the musical and theatrical world has been immense, with lasting consequences to this day. A revolutionary in more ways than one, Wagner wanted to bring together all of the artistic disciplines — poetry, music, movement and design — in a powerful theatrical experience. To this end he had a special theatre designed and built at Bayreuth in which to present his operas a kind of multi-sensory musical adventure, which has been described as a sort of forerunner to virtually reality.
Hence both sessions for July have been devoted to his music. In the first we looked at his six major operas outside of the “Ring Cycle”, while the second was devoted to the four operas of the “Ring”.
Even so, so immense are his works that little more could we do than appreciate a sample of his output.
Do feel free to explore more about the man and his music in the programme notes for both sessions which are posted here for your enjoyment..
12th July - The Music of Richard Wagner
26th July - Wagner - Der Ring des Nibelungen
Bill Squire