While Wagner rattled the cultural and musical chronicles of his time, was even actively involved in the revolutionary movements, forced into exile and tracked down by the authorities police forces even outside his own country, before finally becoming the “Master of Bayreuth”, celebrated as one of the major artists of his time, the famous composer remained above all a man of flesh and blood — a man driven with passion, who could be sometimes violent, sometimes facetious, and at times even tender…
Our last portrait
Otto Friedrich Ludwig WESENDONCK
(born on 16. March, 1815 – died on 18. November, 1896) | German trader and patron
If the Wesendonck name is linked for any music lover to the famous cycle of melodies inspired in Wagner by his muse Mathilde, it is also linked to the many aids the composer received from Otto, Mathilde’s husband, who in his own way was one of the most fervent defenders and builders of Richard Wagner’s work. Often too simply caricatured and reduced to the figure of a deceived husband who would have been deceived and robbed of both his largesse and his wife, Otto Wesendonck, beyond being a wealthy trader, was actually a brilliant mind. The one who was one of the most important silk merchants in Europe did not hesitate for a moment to offer Wagner his help, becoming one of his patrons, maybe seeking in this way to “buy” a reputation among the intellectuals of his time, but especially acting like the enlightened mind he was. (read more…)
I - THE WAGNERS, THE STORY OF A FAMILY (in chronological order)
II- Richard Wagner and his entourage
III - Richard Wagner's time
IV- The actors of the Wagnerian art : Sopranos
IV- The actors of the Wagnerian art : Mezzos
IV- The actors of the Wagnerian art : Tenors
IV- The actors of the Wagnerian art : Baritones
IV- The actors of the Wagnerian art : Basses
IV- THE ACTORS OF THE WAGNERIAN ART : CONDUCTORS (in chronological order)
IV- The actors of the Wagnerian art : Directors
