# List of prose works by Richard Wagner

This is a list of mostly prose works by the German composer Richard Wagner. In addition to writing operas, Wagner was a prolific essayist.
Wagner began compiling his prose and poetry in the 1860s, going on to publish them in ten volumes as the Gesammelte Schriften und Dichtungen (GS&D, Collected Writings and Poems). The first edition was published in Leipzig by Fritzsch, Wagner's main publisher, between 1871 and 1883. The Collected Writings and Poems includes essays, theoretical treatises, poems, published letters, and opera libretti, reflecting Wagner's thoughts on music, art, politics, religion, and philosophy.
The list has been structured and named according to the conventions of William Ashton Ellis, who first translated and published the complete prose works in English in eight volumes between 1892 and 1907. The libretti (poems) of Wagner's completed stage works are not included.
| Ellis Volume | First Published | English Title | Original Title | GS&D Vol. | Notes |
| 1: The Art-Work of the Future, etc. | 1842 | Autobiographical Sketch | Autobiographische Skizze | 1 | |
| 1: The Art-Work of the Future, etc. | 1849 | Art and Revolution | Die Kunst und die Revolution | 3 | |
| 1: The Art-Work of the Future, etc. | 1849 | The Artwork of the Future | Das Kunstwerk der Zukunft | 3 | |
| 1: The Art-Work of the Future, etc. | 1849 | Wieland the Smith | Wieland der Schmied: Als Drama entworfen | 3 | Dramatic sketch |
| 1: The Art-Work of the Future, etc. | 1850 | Art and Climate | Kunst und Klima | 3 | |
| 1: The Art-Work of the Future, etc. | 1851 | A Communication to My Friends | Eine Mitteilung an meine Freunde | 4 | |
| 2: Opera and Drama | 1852 | Opera and Drama | Oper und Drama | 3 & 4 | |
| 3: The Theatre | 1851 | On the "Goethe-Stiftung" | Über die "Goethestiftung": Brief an Franz Liszt | 5 | |
| 3: The Theatre | 1851 | A Theatre at Zurich | Ein Theater in Zürich | 5 | |
| 3: The Theatre | 1852 | On Musical Criticism | Über musikalische Kritik | 5 | |
| 3: The Theatre | 1850 | Judaism in Music | Das Judenthum in der Musik | 5 | Republished in 1869 with commentary |
| 3: The Theatre | 1851 | Mementoes of Spontini | Erinnerungen an Spontini | 5 | |
| 3: The Theatre | 1859 | Homage to L. Sphor and W. Fischer | Nachruf an L. Spohr und Chordirektor W. Fischer | 5 | |
| 3: The Theatre | 1854 | Gluck's Overture to "Iphigenia in Aulis" | Gluck's Ouvertüre zu Iphigenia in Aulis | 5 | |
| 3: The Theatre | 1852 | On the Performing of "Tannhäuser" | Über die Aufführung des Tannhäuser | 5 | |
| 3: The Theatre | 1853 | Remarks on Performing "The Flying Dutchman" | Bemerkungen zur Aufführung der Oper Der fliegende Holländer | 5 | |
| 3: The Theatre | 1852 | Beethoven's "Heroic Symphony" | Programmatische Erläuterungen: Beethovens heroische Symphonie | 5 | Explanatory programme |
| 3: The Theatre | 1852 | Beethoven's Overture to "Coriolanus" | Programmatische Erläuterungen: Ouvertüre zu Coriolan | 5 | Explanatory programme |
| 3: The Theatre | 1853 | Overture to "Die fliegende Holländer" | Programmatische Erläuterungen: Der fliegende Holländer | 5 | Explanatory programme |
| 3: The Theatre | 1853 | Overture to "Tannhäuser" | Programmatische Erläuterungen: Tannhäuser | 5 | Explanatory programme |
| 3: The Theatre | 1853 | Prelude to "Lohengrin" | Programmatische Erläuterungen: Vorspiel zu Lohengrin | 5 | Explanatory programme |
| 3: The Theatre | 1853 | On Franz Liszt's Symphonic Poems | Über Franz Liszt's symphonische Dichtungen | 5 | |
| 3: The Theatre | 1872 | Epilogue to The "Nibelung's Ring" | Bericht an den Deutschen Wagner-Verein über die Umstände und Schicksale, welche die Ausführung des Bühnenfestspieles "Der Ring des Nibelungen" begleiten. | | |
| 3: The Theatre | 1863 | Preface to The "Ring" Poem | | | |
| 3: The Theatre | 1860 | A Letter to Hector Berlioz | Ein Brief an Hector Berlioz | 7 | |
| 3: The Theatre | 1861 | "Music of the Future" | "Zukunftsmusik" | 7 | |
| 3: The Theatre | 1861 | "Tannhäuser" in Paris | Bericht über die Aufführung des Tannhäuser in Paris | 7 | |
| 3: The Theatre | 1863 | The Vienna Opera-House | Das Wiener Hof-Operntheater | 7 | |
| 3: The Theatre | 1864 | To the Kingly Friend | Dem königlichen Freunde: Gedicht | 8 | Poem |
| 4: Art and Politics | 1864 | On State and Religion [de] | Über Staat und Religion | 8 | |
| 4: Art and Politics | 1867 | German Art and German Policy | Deutsche Kunst und deutsche Politik | 8 | |
| 4: Art and Politics | 1878 | What is German? | Was ist Deutsch? | 10 | Written c. 1865 |
| 4: Art and Politics | 1865 | A Music-School for Munich | Bericht an König Ludwig II. von Bayern über eine in München zu errichtende deutsche Musikschule | 8 | |
| 4: Art and Politics | 1868 | Ludwig Schnorr of Carolsfeld | Meine Erinnerungen an Ludwig Schnorr von Carolsfeld | 8 | |
| 4: Art and Politics | 1867 | W. H. Riehl | Censuren: W.H. Riehl | 8 | Notices |
| 4: Art and Politics | 1867 | Ferdinand Hiller | Censuren: Ferdinand Hiller | 8 | Notices |
| 4: Art and Politics | 1868 | A Remembrance of Rossini | Censuren: eine Erinnerung an Rossini | 8 | Notices |
| 4: Art and Politics | 1869 | Eduard Devrient | Censuren: Eduard Devrient | 8 | Notices |
| 4: Art and Politics | 1869 | About Conducting | Über das Dirigieren] | 8 | |
| 4: Art and Politics | 1868 | Rheingold | Drei Gedichte: Rheingold | 8 | "Three Poems" |
| 4: Art and Politics | 1869 | On the Completion of Siegfried | Drei Gedichte: Bei der Vollendung des Siegfried | 8 | "Three Poems" |
| 4: Art and Politics | 1870 | August 25th, 1870 | Drei Gedichte: Zum 25. August 1879 | 8 | "Three Poems" |
| 4: Art and Politics | 1871 | To the German Army before Paris | An das deutsche Heer von Paris | 9 | Poem |
| 4: Art and Politics | 1873 | A Capitulation | Eine Kapitulation: Lustspiel in antiker Manier | 9 | Dramatic sketch |
| 5: Actors and Singers | 1871 | Reminiscences of Auger | Erinnerungen an Auber | 9 | |
| 5: Actors and Singers | 1870 | Beethoven (Wagner) [de] | Beethoven | 9 | |
| 5: Actors and Singers | 1871 | The Destiny of Opera | Über die Bestimmung der Oper | 9 | |
| 5: Actors and Singers | 1872 | Actors and Singers | Über Schauspieler und Sänger | 9 | |
| 5: Actors and Singers | 1873 | The Rendering of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony | Zum Vortrag der neunten Symphonie Beethoven's | 9 | |
| 5: Actors and Singers | 1872 | Letter to an Actor | Brief über das Schauspielerwesen an einen Schauspieler | 9 | "Letters and Short Essays" |
| 5: Actors and Singers | 1873 | A Glance at the German Operatic Stage of Today | Ein Einblick in das heutige deutsche Opernwesen | 9 | "Letters and Short Essays" |
| 5: Actors and Singers | 1871 | Letter to an Italian Friend on the Production of "Lohengrin" | Brief an einen italienischen Freund über die Aufführung des Lohengrin in Bologna | 9 | "Letters and Short Essays" |
| 5: Actors and Singers | 1872 | To the Burgomaster of Bologna | Schreiben an den Bürgermeister von Bologna | 9 | "Letters and Short Essays" |
| 5: Actors and Singers | 1872 | To Friedrich Nietzsche | An Friedrich Nietzsche, ord. Prof. der Klassischen Philologie in Basel | 9 | "Letters and Short Essays" |
| 5: Actors and Singers | 1872 | On the Name "Musikdrama" | Über die Benennung 'Musikdrama' | 9 | "Letters and Short Essays" |
| 5: Actors and Singers | 1873 | Prologue to a Reading of "Die Götterdämmerung" | Einleitung zu einer Vorlesung der Götterdämmerung vor einem ausgewählten Zuhörerkreis in Berlin | 9 | "Letters and Short Essays" |
| 5: Actors and Singers | 1873 | Final Report on the Fates and Circumstances | Epilogischer Bericht über die Umstände und Schicksale, welche die Ausführung des Bühnenfestspieles Der Ring des Nibelungen bis zur Veröffentlichung der Dichtung begleiteten | 6 | "Bayreuth" |
| 5: Actors and Singers | 1873 | The Festival-Playhouse at Bayreuth | Das Bühnenfestspielhaus zu Bayreuth | 9 | "Bayreuth" |
| 6: Religion and Art | 1875 | Spohr's "Jessonda" at Leipzig | Über eine Opernaufführung in Leipzig | 10 | |
| 6: Religion and Art | 1877 | To the Presidents of Wagner-Vereins | An die geehrten Vorstände der Richard Wagner-Vereine | 10 | Minor Bayreuth Papers |
| 6: Religion and Art | 1878 | Proposed Bayreuth "School" | Entwurf, veröffentlicht mit den Statuten des Patronat- vereines | 10 | Minor Bayreuth Papers |
| 6: Religion and Art | 1878 | Introduction to First Number of the Bayreuther Blätter | Zur Einführung. (Bayreuther Blätter, Erstes Stück.) | 10 | Minor Bayreuth Papers |
| 6: Religion and Art | 1879 | Introduction to a Work of Hans Von Wolzogen's | Ein Wort zur Einführung der Arbeit Hans von Wolzogen's Über Verrottung und Errettung der deutschen Sprache | 10 | Minor Bayreuth Papers |
| 6: Religion and Art | 1879 | Postponement of "Parsifal" | Erklärung an die Mitglicher des Patronatvereines | 10 | Minor Bayreuth Papers |
| 6: Religion and Art | 1879 | Introduction to the Year 1880 | Zur Einführung in das Jahr 1880 | 10 | Minor Bayreuth Papers |
| 6: Religion and Art | 1880 | Announcement of "Parsifal" Performance | Zur Mittheilung an die geehrten Patrone der Bühnenfest-spiele in Bayreuth. | 10 | Minor Bayreuth Papers |
| 6: Religion and Art | 1881 | Introduction to a Work of Count Gobineau's | Zur Einführung der Arbeit des Grafen Gobineau | 10 | Minor Bayreuth Papers |
| 6: Religion and Art | 1878 | Modern | Modern | 10 | |
| 6: Religion and Art | 1878 | Public and Popularity | Publikum und Popularität | 10 | |
| 6: Religion and Art | 1878 | The Public in Time and Space | Das Publikum in Zeit und Raum | 10 | |
| 6: Religion and Art | 1878 | Retrospect of the Stage-Festivals of 1876 | Ein Rückblick auf die Bühnenfestspiele des Jahres 1876 | 10 | |
| 6: Religion and Art | 1879 | Shall We Hope? | Wollen wir hoffen? | 10 | |
| 6: Religion and Art | 1879 | On Poetry and Composition | Über das Dichten und Komponieren | 10 | |
| 6: Religion and Art | 1879 | On Operatic Poetry and Composition | Über das Opern-Dichten und Komponieren im Besonderen | 10 | |
| 6: Religion and Art | 1879 | On the Application of Music to the Drama | Über die Anwendung der Musik auf das Drama | 10 | |
| 6: Religion and Art | 1879 | Against Vivisection | Offenes Schreiben an Herrn Ernst von Weber | 10 | |
| 6: Religion and Art | 1880 | Religion and Art [de] | Religion und Kunst | 10 | |
| 6: Religion and Art | 1880 | What Boots this Knowledge? | Was nüßt diese Erkenntniß? | 10 | Supplement to "Religion and Art" |
| 6: Religion and Art | 1881 | Know Thyself | Erkenne dich selbst | 10 | Supplement to "Religion and Art" |
| 6: Religion and Art | 1881 | Hero-dom and Christendom | Heldenthum und Christenthum | 10 | Supplement to "Religion and Art" |
| 6: Religion and Art | 1882 | End of the Patronat-Verein | Brief an H. v. Wolzogen | 10 | |
| 6: Religion and Art | 1882 | The Stipendiary Fund | Offenes Schreiben an Herrn Friedrich Schön in Worms | 10 | |
| 6: Religion and Art | 1882 | "Parsifal" at Bayreuth | Das Bühnenweihfestspiel in Bayreuth 1882 | 10 | |
| 6: Religion and Art | 1883 | A Youthful Symphony | Bericht über die Wiederaufführung eines Jugendwerkes | 10 | |
| 6: Religion and Art | 1883 | Letter to H. V. Stein | Brief an H. v. Stein | 10 | |
| 6: Religion and Art | 1885 | The Human Womanly | Über das Weibliche im Menschlichen | | Fragment |
| 7: In Paris and Dresden | 1836 | "Das Liebesverbot": Account of a first Operatic Performance | Das Liebesverbot: Bericht über eine erste Opernaufführung | 1 | |
| 7: In Paris and Dresden | 1840 | A Pilgrimage to Beethoven | Eine Pilgerfahrt zu Beethoven | 1 | "A German Musician in Paris" |
| 7: In Paris and Dresden | 1841 | An End in Paris | Ein Ende in Paris | 1 | "A German Musician in Paris" |
| 7: In Paris and Dresden | 1841 | A Happy Evening | Ein glücklicher Abend | 1 | "A German Musician in Paris" |
| 7: In Paris and Dresden | 1840 | On German Music | Über deutsches Musikwesen | 1 | "A German Musician in Paris" |
| 7: In Paris and Dresden | 1840 | Pergolesi's "Stabat Mater" | Pergolesis Stabat Mater | 1 | "A German Musician in Paris" |
| 7: In Paris and Dresden | 1840 | The Virtuoso and the Artist | Der Virtuos und der Künstler | 1 | "A German Musician in Paris" |
| 7: In Paris and Dresden | 1840 | Du Métier de Virtuose | Du Métier de Virtuose | 1 | "A German Musician in Paris" |
| 7: In Paris and Dresden | 1841 | The Artist and Publicity | Der Künstler und die Öffentlichkeit | 1 | "A German Musician in Paris" |
| 7: In Paris and Dresden | 1841 | Rossini's "Stabat Mater" | Rossinis Stabat Mater | 1 | "A German Musician in Paris" |
| 7: In Paris and Dresden | 1841 | On the Overture | Über die Ouvertüre | 1 | |
| 7: In Paris and Dresden | 1841 | To the Paris Public | An das Pariser Publikum | 1 | "Der Freischütz in Paris" |
| 7: In Paris and Dresden | 1841 | Report to Germany | Bericht nach Deutschland | 1 | "Der Freischütz in Paris" |
| 7: In Paris and Dresden | 1842 | Halévy's "Reine de Chypre" | Bericht über eine neue Pariser Oper (La Reine de Chypre von Halévy) | 1 | |
| 7: In Paris and Dresden | 1871 | Author's Introduction to Vol. II of the Gesammelte Schriften | | 2 | |
| 7: In Paris and Dresden | 1844 | Weber's Re-interment | Bericht über die Heimbringung der sterblichen Überreste Carl Maria von Weber's aus London nach Dresden | 2 | |
| 7: In Paris and Dresden | 1846 | Beethoven's Choral Symphony at Dresden | Bericht über die Aufführung der neunten Symphonie von Beethoven im Jahre 1846 | 2 | |
| 7: In Paris and Dresden | 1848 | The Wibelungen [de] | Die Wibelungen: Weltgeschichte aus der Sage | 2 | |
| 7: In Paris and Dresden | 1848 | The Nibelungen-Myth | Der Nibelungen-Mythus: Als Entwurf zu einem Drama | 2 | Dramatic sketch |
| 7: In Paris and Dresden | 1848 | Tercentenary Toast | Trinkspruch am Gedenktag des 300-jährigen Bestehens der königlichen musikalischen Kapelle in Dresden | 2 | |
| 7: In Paris and Dresden | 1849 | Plan of Organisation of a German National Theatre | Entwurf zur Organisation eines deutschen Nationaltheaters für das Königreich Sachsen | 2 | |
| 8: Posthumous, etc. | 1848 | Siegfried's Death | Siegfried's Tod | 2 | Dramatic sketch |
| 8: Posthumous, etc. | 1834 | On German Opera | | | Discarded |
| 8: Posthumous, etc. | 1834 | Pasticcio | | | Discarded |
| 8: Posthumous, etc. | 1837 | Bellini | | | Discarded |
| 8: Posthumous, etc. | 1841 | Parisian Amusements | | | Discarded |
| 8: Posthumous, etc. | 1841 | Parisian Fatalities for the German | | | Discarded |
| 8: Posthumous, etc. | 1841 | Letters from Paris, 1841 | | | Discarded |
| 8: Posthumous, etc. | 1842 | Halévy and "La Reine de Chypre" | | | Discarded |
| 8: Posthumous, etc. | 1846 | Jottings on the Ninth Symphony | | | Discarded |
| 8: Posthumous, etc. | 1846 | Artist and Critic | | | Discarded |
| 8: Posthumous, etc. | 1848 | Greeting from Saxony to the Viennese | | | Discarded |
| 8: Posthumous, etc. | 1849 | On E. Devrient's "History of German Acting" | | | Discarded |
| 8: Posthumous, etc. | 1849 | Theatre-Reform | | | Discarded |
| 8: Posthumous, etc. | 1849 | Man and Established Society | | | Discarded |
| 8: Posthumous, etc. | 1849 | The Revolution | | | Discarded |
| 8: Posthumous, etc. | 1865 | Invitation to the Production of "Tristan in Munich" | | | Discarded |
| 8: Posthumous, etc. | 1889 | The Saracen Woman | | | Dramatic sketch, written 1841-1843 |
| 8: Posthumous, etc. | 1899 | Sketch for "The Apostles' Love-Feast" | Das Liebesmahl der Apostel | | Prose sketch, written 1843 |
| 8: Posthumous, etc. | 1887 | Jesus of Nazareth | Jesus von Nazareth | | Prose sketch, written 1848-1849 |
| 8: Posthumous, etc. | 1885 | A Title-Page | | | Sketches and fragments |
| 8: Posthumous, etc. | 1885 | Personal | | | Sketches and fragments |
| 8: Posthumous, etc. | 1885 | A Sketch, a Reflection, and Four Programmes | | | Sketches and fragments |
| 8: Posthumous, etc. | 1885 | Metaphysics, Ethics and Art | | | Sketches and fragments |
| 8: Posthumous, etc. | 1885 | On the Womanly in the Human | | | Sketches and fragments |
| Misc | 1880 | My Life | Mein Leben Vol. 1, Vol. 2 | | Wagner's autobiography |

## Sources

* ↑ Wagner, Richard (1871–1883). Gesammelte Schriften und Dichtungen [Collected Writings and Poems] (in German) (First ed.). Leipzig: Fritzsch.
* ↑ Ellis, William Ashton (1892). Richard Wagner's Prose Works Vol 1: The Art-Work of the Future, etc. London: Kegan Paul, Trench, Trübner & Co., Ltd. Retrieved 15 November 2024.
* ↑ Ellis, William Ashton (1900). Richard Wagner's Prose Works Vol 2: Opera and Drama. London: Kegan Paul, Trench, Trübner & Co., Ltd. Retrieved 15 November 2024.
* ↑ Ellis, William Ashton (1907). Richard Wagner's Prose Works Vol 3: The Theatre. London: Kegan Paul, Trench, Trübner & Co., Ltd. Retrieved 15 November 2024.
* ↑ Ellis, William Ashton (1895). Richard Wagner's Prose Works Vol 4: Art and Politics. London: Kegan Paul, Trench, Trübner & Co., Ltd. Retrieved 15 November 2024.
* ↑ Ellis, William Ashton (1895). Richard Wagner's Prose Works Vol 5: Actors and Singers. London: Kegan Paul, Trench, Trübner & Co., Ltd. Retrieved 15 November 2024.
* ↑ Ellis, William Ashton (1897). Richard Wagner's Prose Works Vol 6: Religion and Art. London: Kegan Paul, Trench, Trübner & Co., Ltd. Retrieved 15 November 2024.
* ↑ Ellis, William Ashton (1898). Richard Wagner's Prose Works Vol 7: In Paris and Dresden. London: Kegan Paul, Trench, Trübner & Co., Ltd. Retrieved 15 November 2024.
* ↑ Ellis, William Ashton (1899). Richard Wagner's Prose Works Vol 8: Posthumous, etc. London: Kegan Paul, Trench, Trübner & Co., Ltd. Retrieved 15 November 2024.
* ↑ Wagner, Richard; Gray, Andrew L.; Whittall, Mary (1992). My Life (1st Da Capo Press ed.). New York: Da Capo Press. ISBN 0-306-80481-6.