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 Richard Wagner 200th Anniversary of Birth Scott 1538 (2013) In 2013, Vatican City issued two stamps honoring the bicentennials of the births of two great 19th century composers: Giuseppe Verdi and Richard Wagner. The stamp for Richard Wagner is shown above, and at the bottom of the article is the six-stamp minisheet released in his honor. Richard Wagner was born on May 22, 1813 in Leipzig, Saxony, Germany. He was a composer, theatre director, and conductor. Known for his operas, including "Parsival", "Tristan and Isolde" and "Tannhauser", Wagner wrote both the libretto (lyrics) and the music for his works. He took an interest in all aspects of his productions, a concept known as "total art", for in addition to the music and lyrics, Wagner also considered the architectural, scenic and choreographic elements of his presentations. Perhaps his most acclaimed opera is "Der Ring des Nibelungen" ("The Ring of the Nibelung"). Wagner's life was not without conflict and controversy. In the 1840's, he became involved in left-wing politics and was active among socialist German nationalists. In 1849, an unsuccessful uprising broke out, in which Wagner played a minor supporting role. Warrants were issued for the arrest of the revolutionaries, and Wagner fled the country in 1849. For the next 13 years, he lived in exile in Switzerland, Venice and Paris. During this time he was often in debt and experienced financial difficulties.  Wagner Festspielhaus, Bayreuth, Bavaria, ca. 1895 Photochrom print by Photoglob Zürich From Wikimedia Commons, in the Public Domain In 1862, the political ban that had been placed on Wagner was lifted, and he returned to Germany. In 1864, Wagner's fortunes took a positive turn. He gained the support of King Ludwig II of Bavaria, who was a great admirer of Wagner and his works. He brought Wagner to Munich, where he was able to focus on his music and creative works. In 1871, Wagner moved to Bayreuth in northern Bavaria. There he built the Bayreuth Festspielhaus, an opera house which included many novel design features. This site continues to serve as the venue for the Bayreuth Festival, where Wagner's operas are presented each year. The month-long festival, held in July and August, is administered and continues to be run by his descendants.  Richard Wagner 200th Anniversary of Birth Minisheet, Scott 1538M (2013) Wagner completed his last composition, "Parsifal", in 1882, and it was first presented at the second Bayreuth Festival. By this time, Wagner was quite ill with known cardiac issues. After the festival, Wagner traveled to Venice and would die there of a heart attack on February 13, 1883. After his death, Wagner's remains were borne by gondola down the Grand Canal, and his body was eventually taken to Germany for final burial in Bayreuth. REFERENCES: |
