Richard Wagner was a very tough man. His strong attitude, his ideas on a completely new model for opera. But he could also express feelings, in particular love, for his wife.
Wagner, the German
Wagner (1813-1883) is well known for his operas (many of them focus on Nordic and German mythology). His compositions distinguish by their complex textures and dense orchestration. They are very elaborate and make heavy use of chromaticism. Also his temperament was harsh, with great ambition and egocentrism. He was even marked with antisemitism and nationalism.
Richard’s loves
But in his private life, Wagner proved to be able to love.
Wagner had a first wife: Christine “Minna” Planer. It was a turbulent marriage, their relationship marked by deep conflict and discord, reflecting the clash between Wagner’s restless ambition and Minna’s desire for a more conventional life.
He had a second, happier marriage with Cosima Liszt (daughter of Franz Liszt, Hungarian composer who hated Wagner… I can’t picture Christmas dinners!). Their relationship was intense and complex, marked by passion, a touch of scandal, and a deep personal and artistic bond.
A birthday present for Cosima
The morning of 25th december 1870, Cosima was sleeping in their villa at Tribschen (Lucerne, Switzerland), and was awaken by a melody of increasing intensity. It was the Siegfried Idyll, a symphonic composition Richard made for her birthday. The symphonic poem was performed on the stairs by 13 orchestral players. When the music ended, Richard reached Cosima and their 5 children to enjoy the peculiar present together. The Idyll was performed two more times, as well as Lohengrin’s “Bridal Chorus” and other melodies.
Siegfried Idyll
This symphonic poem was originally written for a small orchestra of 13 elements. The music is deeply permeated with the personal love of the composer for his wife and family.
The form of the composition is rather free, and can be seen as a very broad ABA’ structure (a deformation of the sonata typical of the late 19th century).
The music has a very intimate and sentimental character, like a sweet lullaby, and the succession of musical episodes is marked by distinct themes.
The first theme of the Idyll probably comes from some sketches Wagner had prepared several years earlier, during the period when the two had declared their love for each other.
The heritage
Wagner originally intended the Siegfried Idyll to remain a private piece, with so many personal meanings.
However, due to financial pressures, he decided to sell the score to a publisher, expanding the orchestration to 35 players to make the piece more marketable.
Cosima noted in her diary that she had wept over this sad necessity, because “the secret treasure became public property.”
Classical Wonders 