Composer. At the age of fifteen, he wrote his first play and, a year later, his first musical composition. He was mostly self-taught in music, though he did study privately when he was a university student in Leipzig. He wrote his first opera when he was twenty. His first great success came with "Rienzi" in 1842, followed soon after by "The Flying Dutchman," "Tannhauser," and "Lohengrin." After the political upheavals of 1848, Wagner fled Germany, spending time in Switzerland writing the text for his "Ring Cycle." In 1862, he returned to Germany, settling in Bavaria under the patronage of young King Ludwig II. Here, Wagner completed "Tristan and Isolde," a tale of forbidden love. At that time, Wagner had an affair with Cosima von Bulow, daughter of Franz Liszt. In 1866, Wagner returned to Switzerland and continued work on the "Ring," taking time out to compose a completely different type of work, the comedy "Die Meistersinger von Nurnberg." His final music drama, "Parsifal," was premiered in 1882. Wagner died that winter while he was on a trip to Venice.
Composer. At the age of fifteen, he wrote his first play and, a year later, his first musical composition. He was mostly self-taught in music, though he did study privately when he was a university student in Leipzig. He wrote his first opera when he was twenty. His first great success came with "Rienzi" in 1842, followed soon after by "The Flying Dutchman," "Tannhauser," and "Lohengrin." After the political upheavals of 1848, Wagner fled Germany, spending time in Switzerland writing the text for his "Ring Cycle." In 1862, he returned to Germany, settling in Bavaria under the patronage of young King Ludwig II. Here, Wagner completed "Tristan and Isolde," a tale of forbidden love. At that time, Wagner had an affair with Cosima von Bulow, daughter of Franz Liszt. In 1866, Wagner returned to Switzerland and continued work on the "Ring," taking time out to compose a completely different type of work, the comedy "Die Meistersinger von Nurnberg." His final music drama, "Parsifal," was premiered in 1882. Wagner died that winter while he was on a trip to Venice.
Bio by: Jelena
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