It's hard to think of another composer with a similar path and influence as Richard Wagner's. He wrote nearly nothing besides opera, but was also an essayist and passionate about theater. In this episode, John and Evan explore Wagner's bigotry in his own words, and how that relates to music today using the writings of Daniel Barenboim (linked below), philosophy, and how/why Wagner created a concert hall just for his music, and more!
Show Notes
John recommends Daniel Barenboim as a conductor of some of the most excellent Wagner performances and recordings. And note the lack of a score on his stand, which is the 4+ hour opera Tristan und Isolde.
The Centennial March for America (composed in 1876 and paid $150k adjusted for inflation!) isn't quite like his other music. You won't be the first or last to find this piece lacking.
Learn more about the famed Tristan chord from Antonio Papano