The Wagner Tuba

  • Wagner Tuba
    • Introduction
    • Wagner Tuba History
      • The Vision
      • The Apprentice
      • Trials and Transpositions
      • Fruition
      • The Disciple
      • Wagner’s Heirs
      • Modern Voices
      • Wagner Tuba Revival
    • Physical Properties & Range
    • Wagner Tuba Notation
    • Position in The Score
    • Seating in the Orchestra
  • Composers
    • Wagner Tuba Composers
    • Stephen Caudel
    • Andrew Downes
    • Jan Koetsier
    • Jorge E. López
    • Elisabeth Lutyens
  • Richard Wagner
    • Introduction
    • Birth in Leipzig
    • The ‘Acting’ Father
    • Wagner the Student
    • Early Compositions
    • Marriage to Minna Planer
    • Wagner in Paris
    • Mathilde Wesendonk
    • King Ludwig II of Bavaria
    • Wagner and Cosima
    • Bayreuth & Final Years
  • The Brass Section
    • Introduction
    • French Horn Introduction
      • French Horn History
      • French Horn Range
      • The Double Horn
      • French Horn Manufacturers
      • Famous Horn Players
      • French Horn Repertoire
      • Learning The French Horn
      • French Horn Orchestration
      • Contemporary Jazz Horn
    • Trumpet Introduction
      • Types Of Trumpet
      • Trumpet History
      • Trumpet Range
      • Famous Trumpet Players
    • Trombone
    • Tuba
  • News
  • English
    • Deutsch

Wagner’s Marriage to Minna Planer

On 24 November 1836, Wagner and Minna were married. It is said that the pair were quarrelling even in the presence of the clergyman who was to marry them. Their life together was not a calm one. Wagner could not easily tolerate the many admirers attracted by Minna’s regular stage appearances. As much as he was jealous of her, she in turn could never stand his extravagances and needs for his creature comforts, costly furnishings, and more than anything else, clothes. His love of fine silks and velvets which he claimed he needed to achieve inspiration is legendary. The extent of Wagner’s extravagance can be seen from this order for a dressing gown: ‘Pink satin stuffed with eiderdown and quilted in squares . . . lined with white satin, six widths at the bottom … a padded ruching all round’.

Wagner Cloth CaricatureBecause of Wagner’s unbridled extravagances, the debts inevitably piled up and Minna could stand it no longer. As Wagner was summoned to appear before the magistrate to answer the charges of his creditors, she eloped with a businessman called Dietrich. Wagner caught up with her at her parents’ home in Dresden, but after a short reconciliation, she soon disappeared again.

A caricature of Wagner (right) from Der Floh (The Flea). This was published soon after Wagner’s letters to his milliner had revealed his love for velvets, satins and other costly fabrics. Wagner’s excesses led to financial problems all his life.

Minna did eventually write ‘a really moving letter’ to her husband, and after more than four months separation, she joined Wagner at Riga where he had taken up a new position as theatre director.

Exhausted by their emotional trials and tribulations, they spent a much more peaceful time together until, in 1829, Wagner fell foul of his employers and was fired from his job.

Next: Wagner in Paris

RICHARD WAGNER MENU

  • Richard Wagner’s Life
    • Wagner’s Birth in Leipzig
    • The ‘Acting’ Father
    • Wagner the Student
    • Wagner – Early Compositions
    • Marriage to Minna Planer
    • Wagner in Paris
    • Mathilde Wesendonk
    • King Ludwig II of Bavaria
    • Wagner and Cosima
    • Bayreuth & the Final Years

THE LEITMOTIF

Wagner was arguably the greatest exponant of the Leitmotif. In simple terms this is a theme meant to represent a character in a dramatic work. In his essay "Opera and Drama" (1851) Wagner had raised the issue of how music could best unite disparate elements of the plot of a music drama. The leitmotif corresponds to this ideal.

Modern film composers use this technique extensively today.

Terms/Privacy ~ Contact the wagner-tuba.com team ~ Website by Dark Sea Web ~ © 2001-2023

  • English
  • Deutsch