Wagner, Richard

Composer, Writer

Born: 22.05.1813 in Leipzig

Died: 13.02.1883 in Venice

Wagner came to Wiesbaden for the first time in 1835 to recruit singers for his Magdeburg theater. The first Wiesbaden performances of the romantic operas "Tannhäuser" in 1852 and "Lohengrin" in 1853 were made possible by Wagner's friend Louis Schindelmeißer. In February 1862, Wagner moved into two rooms in the Biebrich villa of architect Wilhelm Frickhöfer. He did not get beyond the score of the first act of "Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg".

After a dog bite on his right thumb, Wagner was only able to write with difficulty and his client failed to pay. Frickhöfer terminated his rental contract. Wagner's request to keep the Mosburg in Biebrich Palace Park as a place of work was turned down by Duke Adolph zu Nassau. Wagner moved out on 12.11.1862. Despite this disappointment, he repeatedly returned to Wiesbaden.

The naming of streets and squares after Wagner and his work in Wiesbaden-Biebrich was inspired by the "Wagner Circle" and a branch of the "General Richard Wagner Society (Wiesbaden)".