| Richard Wagner Chronology |
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1813 |
May 22: Richard Wagner born in Leipzig. November 23: Death of father; Friedrich Wagner. |
RW 0 | ||
1819 |
Arthur Schopenhauer's book 'Die Welt als Wille und Vorstellung' is published. | RW 6 | ||
1821 |
September 30: Ludwig Geyer, Richard's stepfather, dies. | RW 8 | ||
1827 |
March 26: Death of Ludwig von Beethoven. | RW 14 | ||
1828 |
Richard studies at the Nikolai-Gymnasium. | RW 15 | ||
1829 |
Richard Wagner sees Wilhelmine Schröder-Devrient perform on stage, and decides to become a musician. | RW 16 | ||
1831 |
Studies music. Education by Theodor Weinlig. | RW 18 | ||
1833 |
Composition of 'die Feen'. | RW 20 | ||
1834 |
Musical director in Lauchstädt and Magdeburg. Relationship with Minna Planer. |
RW 21 | ||
1835 |
Richard works on the opera 'das Liebesverbot'. | RW 22 | ||
1836 |
Uraufführung of 'das Liebesverbot'. November 24: Richard marries Minna Planer. |
RW 23 | ||
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1837 |
Musical director in Riga. | RW 24 | ||
1838 |
Begins work on the opera 'Rienzi'. | RW 25 | ||
1839 |
Flight from Riga. Wagner escapes his creditors. He travels to London and then to Paris. | RW 26 | ||
1841 |
Composition of 'der Fliegende Holländer'. | RW 28 | ||
1842 |
Richard and Minna leave Paris for Dresden. October 20: Uraufführung 'Rienzi' in Dresden. |
RW 29 | ||
1843 |
January 2 : Uraufführung 'der Fliegende Holländer' in Dresden. Wagner takes on the position of Hofkapellmeister in Dresden. | RW 30 | ||
1844 |
Wagner works on 'Tannhäuser'. October 15: Birth of Friedrich Nietzsche. |
RW 31 | ||
1845 |
October 19: Uraufführung 'Tannhäuser' in Dresden. August 25: Birth of Ludwig II. |
RW 32 | ||
1846 |
Begins composition of 'Lohengrin'. | RW 33 | ||
1848 |
January 9: Death of Richard's mother. Wagner gets involved in politics and becomes a revolutionary. Genesis of 'der Ring des Nibelungen'. |
RW 35 | ||
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1849 |
Wagner plays an active role in the failed revolution of May. He flees to Switzerland. | RW 36 | ||
1850 |
Exile in Zürich. August 28: Uraufführung 'Lohengrin' in Weimar, under direction of Franz Liszt. |
RW 37 | ||
1852 |
Wagner completes 'Ring-poem' in Zürich. | RW 39 | ||
1853 |
Musical inspiration to compose prelude to 'das Rheingold'. | RW 40 | ||
1854 |
Wagner reads Schopenhauer's 'Die Welt als Wille und Vorstellung' (only now, I fully understand my own Wotan). First ideas for 'Tristan & Isolde'. |
RW 41 | ||
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1856 |
March 23: Completion of 'die Walküre'. Wagner starts with the first sketches of Siegfried (completed in 1871). | RW 43 | ||
1857 |
Asylum at the Wesendonck's. Relationship between Richard and Minna deteriorates. On August 9, Wagner completes the sketches to the 2nd act of Siegfried. Wagner begins with 'Tristan & Isolde'. | RW 44 | ||
1858 |
The affair between Richard and Mathilde Wesendonck causes a separation between Richard and Minna. Richard leaves for Venice, and Minna goes to Dresden. | RW 45 | ||
1859 |
Completion of 'Tristan & Isolde'. | RW 46 | ||
1860 |
September 21: Arthur Schopenhauer dies. | RW 47 | ||
1861 |
Tannhäuser-scandal in Paris. | RW 48 | ||
1862 |
Last meeting between Richard and Minna, in Biebrich. | RW 49 | ||
1863 |
Wagner and Cosima von Bülow meet in Berlin, and declare they belong to each other. | RW 50 | ||
1864 |
King Ludwig II invites Wagner to Munich. It is a gift from heaven, to the totally disillusioned and bankrupt Wagner. Cosima von Bülow moves in with Wagner. | RW 51 | ||
1865 |
April 10: Birth of Isolde, first child of Richard and Cosima. June 10: Uraufführung of 'Tristan & Isolde' in Munich. Wagner begins autobiography 'Mein Leben'. Completion 2nd act Siegfried. December 10: Wagner is forced to leave Bavaria. |
RW 52 | ||
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1866 |
January 25: Death of Minna Wagner-Planer. Wagner in Tribschen. | RW 53 | ||
1867 |
Cosima in Tribschen. Eva, second child of Richard and Cosima is born on February 17. | RW 54 | ||
1868 |
June 21: Uraufführung 'die Meistersinger' in Munich. November 8: Leipzig, first encounter between Wagner and Nietzsche. November 16: Cosima permanently moves in with Wagner in Tribschen, never to leave his side. |
RW 55 | ||
1869 |
Friedrich Nietzsche starts visiting Tribschen on a regular basis. March 1: Wagner begins with the 3rd act of Siegfried. June 6: Birth of Siegfried Wagner. September 22: Uraufführung 'das Rheingold' in Munich. October 2: Wagner starts with Götterdämmerung (completion in 1874). |
RW 56 | ||
1870 |
June 26: Uraufführung 'die Walküre' in Munich. July 18: Official divorce of Cosima and Hans von Bülow. July 19: War between Germany and France. August 25: Richard and Cosima marry in Luzern. |
RW 57 | ||
1871 |
January 18: Wilhelm I is proclaimed German Emperor. Wagner chooses Bayreuth as location for his Festspiele. February 5: Completion of Siegfried. |
RW 58 | ||
1872 |
The Wagners move to Bayreuth. May 22: First stone is laid for the construction of the Festspielhaus. |
RW 59 | ||
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1874 |
April 28: The Wagner family settles in house 'Wahnfried'. November 21: Wagner completes Götterdämmerung and therewith the Ring of the Nibelung. |
RW 61 | ||
1875 |
First rehearsals in Bayreuth. | RW 62 | ||
1876 |
August 13: Start of the first Bayreuther Festspiele with 'der Ring des Nibelungen'. Wagner and Nietzsche see each other in Sorrento, one last time. | RW 63 | ||
| 1877 | Wagner begins working on Parsifal. | RW 64 | ||
| 1882 | January 13: Parsifal completed. July 26: Start of the second Bayreuther Festspiele with Parsifal. In September, Wagner with his family, travels to Venice. |
RW 69 | ||
| 1883 | February 13: Death of 'Der Meister' in Venice. † February 18: Funeral of Richard Wagner in Bayreuth. |
RW 69 | ||
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