Richard Wagner Biography and Timeline

Birth of Richard Wagner

Birth of Richard Wagner

Conductor

Appointed Conductor of the Dresden Opera House

Role range: 1842-1848

The Flying Dutchman

Composition of "The Flying Dutchman"

Flying Dutchman Dresden Premiere

Richard Wagner's The Flying Dutchman premiered in Dresden, following a cursed sea captain searching for redemption.

Tannhauser

Composition of "Tannhauser"

Lohengrin

The final composition of, "Lohengrin"

Lohengrin Weimar Premiere

Richard Wagner's Lohengrin premiered in Weimar under Franz Liszt, centering on a mysterious knight and the consequences of forbidden questions.

Tristan Und Isolde

Composes, "Tristan Und Isolde"

Tristan und Isolde Munich

Richard Wagner's Tristan und Isolde premiered in Munich, extending chromatic harmony in a tale of forbidden love.

Meistersinger

Composes, "Meistersinger"

Meistersinger Nurnberg Munich Premiere

Richard Wagner's Die Meistersinger von Nurnberg premiered in Munich, exploring artistic tradition, innovation and love.

Das Rheingold

Composes, "Das Rheingold"

Das Rheingold

1st performance of, "Das Rheingold"

Die Walkure

Composes, "Die Walkure"

Der Ring Des Nibelingen

Composition of "Siegfried". Composition of "Gotterdammerung". Composition of "Der Ring Des Nibelingen"

Gotterdammerung

Composition of "Siegfried". Composition of "Gotterdammerung". Composition of "Der Ring Des Nibelingen"

Performance

"Der Ring Des Nibelingen" is 1st performed in the Festival Theatre Bayreuth

Siegfried

Composition of "Siegfried". Composition of "Gotterdammerung". Composition of "Der Ring Des Nibelingen"

Ring Cycle Bayreuth Premiere

Richard Wagner's complete Ring cycle was first performed at Bayreuth, uniting four music dramas around power, greed and myth.

Bayreuth Premiere of Parsifal

Wagner's final completed opera is first performed at Bayreuth.

Parsifal Premiere

Parsifal receives its world premiere at the Bayreuth Festspielhaus.

Parsifal

Composition of "Parsifal", Wagners final work

Demonstrations

Lohengrin is performed at the Paris Opera House, followed by anti-German demonstration

Performance

Lohengrin is performed at the Paris Opera House, followed by anti-German demonstration

Performance

Lohengrin is performed at the Paris Opera House for a 2nd time, followed by arrests

Bayreuth

The festival begins to give regular performances of Wagners operas. Located where Wagner built his home