The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-02-15
Richard wagner. the Composer.

Wilhelm Richard Wagner, whose death
was announced yesterday, was born IN
Lcipsic in 1913. Ills father was police
actuary, who died six months after the
birth OF his son. His stcp-father was IN
actor and painter, and was anxious TO make
painter OF his sicp-son, but he showed no
aptitude. lie was good student and fond
OF the classics, translated twelve books OF
the Odyssey, and longed 10 be poet. HIS
musical faculty was awakened by hearing
Beethovcn's symphonies. Without any
special musical training he began writing
oVerturcs, orc OF which was played IN
the Lcipslc Theatre. At nineteen he com
posed an overture which was well re-
ceiycd NJ one OF the GeDendhaus con-
certs in LEIPZIG, and n symphony, Wiich
was performed at the conservatory III VI,
emma. lie accepted The position OF musicai
director at Magdcbtrg, and on ten days
notice wrote and presented an opera
which did not prove success but ne was
NOT disheartened at the failure. While at
Dresden he was moved by Reading Bull
Wer's Rienzi 10 write an opera with thai
tile. which was brought out in That city
in 1870. When making q voyage TO
London he was driven by storm into
Norwegian port, where he caught
The legend OF the Flying Dutchman.
lie won't 10 Paris and fell into want.
As his fortunes improved he visited
oiber cities. wrote the "Flying Dutch-
man " and Tanhauser," attracted the at
tcntion of Ludwig, King OF Bavaria. estab-
lishcd himself in Munich, and entered on
his fame. He brought out " Tristan " and
" lsoldev in 1865, "Dic McistcrSinger Won
Nurnberg in 1868, and in the summer OF
1876. in theatre OF his own design at Bal
reuth, the thrcefoid opera OF 1.-The Nibe-
iungen Ring" This was one Of the great
est musical events OF the century. In his
later years he lived in Baircuth in house
OF his. own designing. His wife IS a
daughter Of Franz List, the celebrated
musician.
Wagners theories OF opera composition
have occasioned wide discussion. The
salient points OF his creed were thus cX-
pressed by himself "The error i'm the
opera as q species OF art has consisted in the
fact that q acre means Of cXpressiOn-that
is, music-has been made ;hc end Of eX-
preston; The drama has been made the
means, and thus tie actual lyric drama has
been madeto rest upon Che basis OF absolute
music.V In other words, in the modern
Italian opera the play itself has no interest
fol- ;he audience; they 20 simply TO hear
certain ariOs. duets, and concerted pieces.
In Wagner's opinion the drama Itself
should be the centre OF interest: it should
be founded upon some poetical ard legend
ary subject, such as the myths OF the
Nibelungon poetry. The arificlally con-
stIucted aros Of the Italian opera, where
the whole interest Of the drama is s's-
pended. he contendcd must be done away
with. He believed that the music should
spring directly from The requirements OF
the text; that instead Of having here and
there melodies with intervening recitatiyos,
the whole opera should be melody. The
orchestra, also, in his system Is exalted to
great importance; taking It's large share rs
q means OF hei9htening the interest and
giving vitality and color to the whole work,
It ceases to be a mere Instrument OF ac-
commandment. and becomes as closely
identified with the purpose OF the play
as the actors themselves. He expressed
his ideas at great length in various works,
which have been published in nine VOL
umeS.