Dresden – 200th Anniversary of Wagner’s Birth

Composer Richard Wagner

The city of Dresden is one of several cities across Germany that will honor the 200th anniversary of the birth of the famous classical composer Richard Wagner (the W is pronounced as a V) in 2013.

The city was an inspiration to Wagner, who lived here as a child and returned in 1842 for several years. He created some of his greatest works here.  Many of the sites in the city are associated with him.

He was born on May 22, 1813 in Leipzig, but at a year old, he moved with his mother and stepfather to Dresden. Here he joined the choir school at the Kreuzkirche (Church of the Holy Cross) and was eventually drawn to the opera.

Wagner and his wife Minna moved into an apartment across from the Frauenkirche (Church of Our Lady), with its magnificent dome, the centerpiece of Dresden. Wagner premiered his oratorio Feast of Pentecost 170 years ago at this magnificent church. On May 18, the piece will be performed there once again.

Wagner concerts will be performed in the Semper Opera House. His opera Rienzi, inspired by his reading of the novel by the same name, was first performed in Dresden at the Semper Opera House, where he also staged the premiere of The Flying Dutchman.

 The Semper Opera House and Church of Our Lady are among the most important sites in Dresden associated with Wagner.

An exhibition at the Dresden City Museum, which runs from 27 April to 25 August 2013, focuses on Wagner's time in Dresden, when he conceived nearly all of his later works.

 Saxon State and University Library of Dresden is presenting historical documents of Richard Wagner in a special Jubilee 2013 exhibit.

The Royal Palace will reopen its Great Hall (Riesensaal) in February, and Zwinger’s Royal Cabinet of Mathematical and Physical Instruments, showcasing the world’s finest collection of historic globes, will reopen in April after lengthy construction.  The city is truly gearing for a great celebration.

Wagner completed many operas in his lifetime.  This site lists them with links to casts, summaries, audio, and/or video.  For a sampling of his music, this audio file is The Ride of Valkyries. This site has postcard photos from many of his operas.  Just click on the opera title (written in his own handwriting!).

Just a note…

While strolling the cobblestoned streets of historic Dresden investigating Wagner’s life, you might want to look for any of the 60 time capsules embedded in the ground that keep documents to maintain the memory of the Holocaust.