Richard Wagner
1813-1883 · German (Leipzig/Bayreuth) · Romanticism
Known for: Revolutionary opera composer who created the Ring Cycle, built his own opera house, and changed harmony forever
Wagner was a megalomaniac, compulsive debtor, serial womanizer, and vicious antisemite - also one of the most influential artists who ever lived. He created the Ring Cycle (16 hours of opera), invented the leitmotif, and built the Bayreuth Festspielhaus specifically for his works.
He seduced his best friends' wives, was exiled from multiple countries, and demanded absolute devotion from everyone. His ego was astronomical and largely justified by his genius.
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