Richard Wagner (1813-1883)

Donald Macleod follows Wagner's journey towards building the
Bayreuth Festival.


This week, Donald Macleod follows Wagner on his decades-long
journey to realise his dream of building his own music theatre,
and establishing a festival there dedicated to his music. We see
how Wagner’s revolutionary ideas and vaulting ambition struggled
against the reality of securing supporters, raising finances, and
inspiring audiences.


Music Featured:


Das Rheingold, Scene 1: “Lugt, Schwestern! Die Weckerin lach in
den Grund” Prelude to Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg Tannhäuser:
Act 3 Scene 1: “Allmächt’ge Jungfrau, hör mein Flehen!” and Scene
2 “O du, mein holder, Abendstern” Lohengrin: Prelude to Act III
Tristan and Isolde: Prelude and Liebestod Das Rheingold: End of
Scene 3 “Ohe! Ohe! Schreckliche Schlange…“ Die Walküre: Act 2,
“Hinweg! Hinweg! Flieh die Entwihte!...” Tannhauser: Act 2 Finale
Lohengrin: Act 3, “In fernem Land” Das Rheingold, Scene 4, Finale
(Entry of the Gods into Valhalla) Lohengrin: Act 3, “Treulich
geführt ziehet dahin” (Bridal March) Tristan and Isolde: Act 2,
“O sink hernieder, Nacht der Liebe…” (Love duet) Die Walküre, Act
3 opening (The Ride of the Valkyries) Siegfried: Act 3, “Mit
zerfochtner Waffe wich mir der Feige” Gotterdämmerung: Prologue,
Sunrise and Siegfried’s Rhine Journey Siegfried: Act 3, “Heil
dir, Sonne! Heil dir, Licht!” (Brünhilde’s awakening) Die
Walküre: Act III, Wotan’s Farewell and Magic Fire Music
Götterdämmerung: Siegfried’s Funeral March Götterdämmerung:
"Starke Scheite schichtet mir dort“ (Brunhilde’s Immolation
Scene) Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg: Act 3, Scene 5 “Morgenlich
Leuchtend” (Walther’s Prize Song) Parsifal: Prelude to Act 1
Parsifal: Act 1, Entry to the knight’s castle Meistersinger: Act
3, Scene 4, “Selig wie die Sonne” (Quintet) Parsifal: Act 2,
Scene 2 (Klingsor’s magic garden) Parsifal – Good Friday Music


Presented by Donald Macleod Produced by Chris Taylor, for BBC
Cymru Wales


For full track listings, including artist and recording details,
and to listen to the pieces featured in full (for 30 days after
broadcast) head to the series page for Richard Wagner (1813-1883)
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0010040


And you can delve into the A-Z of all the composers we’ve
featured on Composer of the Week here:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/3cjHdZlXwL7W41XGB77X3S0/composers-a-to-z