The Mad King
Donald Macleod explores how Wagner's talent for escaping trouble hit new heights thanks to a new King of Bavaria.
Wagner's talent for escaping trouble hits new heights thanks to a new King of Bavaria, whose sanity was questionable. The composer, a left-wing revolutionary who had fought on the streets in Dresden, now brought about a revolution in music with the help of a ridiculously spoiled and pampered monarch. King Ludwig happened to be Wagner's number one fan and gave the ever-ambitious composer seemingly limitless financial backing. With Donald Macleod.
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Music Played
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Richard Wagner - Das Rheingold: Prelude to Act I
Performer: Bayreuth Festival Orchestra, Daniel Barenboim (conductor)
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Richard Wagner - The Valkyrie: Excerpt from Act III
Performer: Wotan: Norman Bailey (bass-baritone), English National Opera Orchestra, Reginald Goodall (conductor)
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Richard Wagner - Siegfried: Excerpt from Act II - Scenes 2 & 3
Performer: Siegfried: Jess Thomas (tenor), Fafner: Karl Ridderbusch (bass), Waldvogel: Catherine Gayer (soprano), Alberich: Zoltan Kelemen (bass-baritone), Mime: Gerhard Stolze (tenor), Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, Hebert von Karajan (conductor)
Broadcasts
- Thu 7 Oct 201012:00BBC Radio 3
- Thu 7 Oct 201022:00BBC Radio 3
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