Richard Wagner
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Willhelm Richard Wagner, although not a very famous composer, was quite an influential one. He was born on the 22nd of May in 1813, his family's 9th and last child. His father died 9 months after he was born, so he went to live with a playwright by the name of Ludwig Geyer. This caused him to be greatly influenced by opera and plays. When he was only 8 though, Geyer died too. He was then sent to a grammar school/orphanage, where he continued to study music and opera. Unlike a lot of famous composers, as a child he knew he wanted to be a musician. He was even able to persuade his mother to let him become a musician, and she would pay for his music lessons.
In 1827 his family moved back to his hometown, Leipzig. In January of 1828, he heard Beethoven's 7th and 9th symphonies. He wrote his own version of the 9th symphony, at the young age of 15. In 1831 he enrolled at the Leipzig university. He studied composition, drama, and opera. During this time he wrote a few pieces which were not memorable.
After graduating, he was employed as a choir master at a theatre in Wurzburg. He composed his first opera here, Die Feen, at the age of 20. While he worked here he also had the first of many marriages to come. He then moved to Dresden and wrote 3 operas in 7 years, the most famous being The Flying Dutchman. Soon after though, he was put in exile for the next 12 years of his life. He was unable to write music or do much of anything.
He then wrote a few popular operas immediately after getting back to his home. He was excited to start writing music again. Suddenly, he was exiled again for divorcing his second wife. He would remain in exile for the next 6 years. Eventually his ban was fully lifted in 1862. Although he was full of debt, he was happy. Soon this would all change though. He was hired by King Ludwig the second, who cleared all his debts and let him show his music in the Grand Theatre.
Wagner was sickened for a majority of the rest of his life. By the end, he had written tons of operas, and changed the way classical music was. He added more "drama" to it. This is often referred to as the start of modern music.
In 1827 his family moved back to his hometown, Leipzig. In January of 1828, he heard Beethoven's 7th and 9th symphonies. He wrote his own version of the 9th symphony, at the young age of 15. In 1831 he enrolled at the Leipzig university. He studied composition, drama, and opera. During this time he wrote a few pieces which were not memorable.
After graduating, he was employed as a choir master at a theatre in Wurzburg. He composed his first opera here, Die Feen, at the age of 20. While he worked here he also had the first of many marriages to come. He then moved to Dresden and wrote 3 operas in 7 years, the most famous being The Flying Dutchman. Soon after though, he was put in exile for the next 12 years of his life. He was unable to write music or do much of anything.
He then wrote a few popular operas immediately after getting back to his home. He was excited to start writing music again. Suddenly, he was exiled again for divorcing his second wife. He would remain in exile for the next 6 years. Eventually his ban was fully lifted in 1862. Although he was full of debt, he was happy. Soon this would all change though. He was hired by King Ludwig the second, who cleared all his debts and let him show his music in the Grand Theatre.
Wagner was sickened for a majority of the rest of his life. By the end, he had written tons of operas, and changed the way classical music was. He added more "drama" to it. This is often referred to as the start of modern music.
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