Wilhelm Richard Wagner

Wilhelm Richard Wagner

Richard Wagner was born in Leipzig, Germany, on May 22, 1813; he was a one out of nine child in his family. His father, Carl Friedrich Wagner was a clerk in the Leipzig police service but died just sixth months after Richard was born. Richards mother, Johanna Rosine Wagner was living with the actor and Play writer Ludwig Geyer. For fourteen years of his life, William Wagner was known as Wilhelm Richard Geyer, but eventually changed it back to Wagner.

Wagner and his stepfather shared the love for theatre and Richard Wagner even took part in performances. Wagner went to school at Pastor Wetzel’s school at Possendorf, where he received piano lessons from his Latin teacher. Following Wagner’s stepfather’s death Richard was sent to the Kreuz Grammar School in Dresden, which was paid for by his brother. Wagner being very young at the time started witting his own plays, his first was Leubald und Adelaide, which was a gruesome tragedy and was strongly influenced by Shakespeare and Goethe. Wagner had his mind set on turning the Leubald und Adelaide into a musical and persuaded his family to let him take music lessons.

Wagner and his family moved back to Leipzig in 1827, and Wagner’s first lessons in composition were taken between 1828 and 1831. Wagner was inspired by Beethoven when he heard his 7th Symphony.