ÖSTERREICHISCHE POST in 1986 issued a first day cover stamp to commemorate the International Richard Wagner Congress held in Vienna that year. The stamp depicts Richard Wagner and a scene from one of his opera's, "Lohengrin".
Wilhelm Richard Wagner (1813-83) was a German composer, theatre director, polemicist, and conductor primarily known for his operas. His compositions, particularly those of his later period, are notable for their complex textures, rich harmonies and orchestration, and the elaborate use of leitmotifs—musical phrases associated with individual characters, places, ideas or plot elements. His advances in musical language, such as extreme chromaticism and quickly shifting tonal centres, greatly influenced the development of classical music; his "Tristan und Isolde" is sometimes described as marking the start of modern music.
Until his final years, Wagner's life was characterised by political exile, turbulent love affairs, poverty and repeated flight from his creditors. His controversial writings on music, drama and politics (including the Nazi Party's adoration of him) have attracted extensive comment, in particular his antisemitic sentiments.
As controversial as Wagner was and remains, one cannot discount the effect his ideas have had in the arts throughout the 20th century; his influence spread beyond composition into conducting, philosophy, literature, the visual arts and theatre.
As controversial as Wagner was and remains, one cannot discount the effect his ideas have had in the arts throughout the 20th century; his influence spread beyond composition into conducting, philosophy, literature, the visual arts and theatre.
Source:Wikipedia
No comments:
Post a Comment