How to Enjoy Opera - Tips for Newbies - Richard Wagner
Of the five great composers who are primarily responsible for the three major opera periods, Richard Wagner is the one who presents most problems - to the listener, viewer, critic, historian, performer and just about everyone else interested in opera.
Richard Wagner put together a set of very strict rules according to which operas ought to be composed. Opera, in his opinion, was a synthesis of all arts - i.e. music, poetry, drama, painting, literature, etc. He called his operas "music dramas." He did not always follow his own rules (he was too good a composer and dramatist for that).
Richard Wagner came up with a whole bunch of innovative techniques, including "leitmotifs" (individual themes for each character and certain objects, such as Zigmund's sword in the "Ring Cycle") and "the endless melody" (i.e. his melodies never hit the tonic until the end of an act; consequently, there is no room for applause anywhere; as a result, the action goes on uninterrupted, which may or may not be an advantage). Richard Wagner's system of leitmotifs is occasionally tedious.
Richard Wagner insisted on lavish productions. His operas are fiendishly expensive to produce. During his lifetime, not one of his premieres made a profit. And yet it is Richard Wagner, of all composers, who has a following ALL HIS OWN to this day. The following may not be large, and yet the folks are very, very loyal. Wherever in the world the "Ring Cycle" (consisting of four operas) is performed, you can be sure you will see familiar faces in the audience. The people are from different countries and cultures; they are different ages; they have different values; but they follow Wagner's productions religiously (and apparently have the money to do so).
Richard Wagner despised Jews and said so publicly, and even wrote articles on the subject. And yet, his closest friends were Jewish. Richard Wagner refused to allow Jewish conductors participate in the production of his operas. And yet, a Jewish friend of his conducted the premiere of "Parcifal" in Wagner's own precious opera theatre in Bayreuth.
Richard Wagner disdained Italian composers, and yet his own operas own much to the Italians.
Richard Wagner hoped to inspire new German composers. Instead, he inspired a lot of Italian composers (including most of the veristi, and Giacomo Puccini's operas owe more to Wagner than they do to Giuseppe Verdi).
Richard Wagner is an acquired taste. If you see any of his operas live and are bored or uncertain, do not give up on him. Listen to Puccini and Verdi for a while, then get back to Wagner. He grows on you. Especially if you're lucky to catch a performance conducted by someone who has more respect for the score than for the critics and TV cameras.
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