S01E01 Episode 1
In the year 1849, Richard Wagner is a respected composer living in Dresden where he works as royal court conductor for the King of Saxony. Although his wife, Minna, enjoys their life and status, Wagner...
Wagner
S01E03: Episode 3
Wagner's health deteriorates and he suffers from various illnesses. Mathilde Wesendonck, the wife of wealthy silk merchant Otto Wesendonck, becomes yet another one of his patrons and offers him the cottage on her estate as his residence. Once installed in the cottage, Wagner begins a passionate correspondence with Mathilde, which upsets both Mathilde's husband, Otto, and Wagner's wife, Minna, who seeks solace in increasing amounts of laudanum. Wagner, who starts composing 'Tristan und Isolde' for Mathilde, is also visited by his good friend Hans von Bülow, and his new...
Overview
A huge panorama of Wagner's life and work, from before the 1848 Revolution, through his exile in Switzerland, his rescue by the besotted King Ludwig II of Bavaria to the final triumph at Bayreuth.
Episodes
S01E02 Episode 2
After refusing to join her husband for quite some time, Minna eventually agrees to move to Zürich to be reunited with Wagner. She manages to persuade Wagner to start conducting and composing again and urges...
S01E03 Episode 3
Wagner's health deteriorates and he suffers from various illnesses. Mathilde Wesendonck, the wife of wealthy silk merchant Otto Wesendonck, becomes yet another one of his patrons and offers him the cottage on her estate as...
S01E04 Episode 4
Wagner moves to Venice, Italy to finish 'Tristan und Isolde'. When Karl Ritter informs him that Mrs. Ritter is no longer able to provide Wagner with money, he ends their friendship and travels to Paris....
S01E05 Episode 5
After the failure in Paris, Wagner travels around Europe to Switzerland, Austria and Russia. He tries staging Tristan und Isolde in Vienna, but is unsuccessful. Meanwhile, Minna continues to plead with the Dresden court for...
S01E06 Episode 6
In Munich, Wagner enjoys a prosperous time under the patronage of the young King of Bavaria. Most of his debts are settled and several of his operas are staged to great success. Meanwhile, Wagner starts...
S01E07 Episode 7
Wagner must reconcile with the King of Bavaria and eventually does so. Their friendship grows even stronger while Ludwig's minsters are becoming increasingly suspicious of Wagner and his ever-increasing demands for money. Meanwhile, the premiere...
S01E08 Episode 8
Wagner moves to Lucerne, Switzerland with Cosima and her children. He is later joined by King Ludwig who wishes to abdicate in order to become Wagner's assistant. Wagner convinces him to return to Bavaria, where...
S01E09 Episode 9
Wagner and Cosima are overjoyed by the birth of their son, Siegfried. Meanwhile, Germany continues its war with France, which finally ends months later in January 1871 with a victory for Prussia and it finally...
S01E10 Episode 10
Construction on the opera house in Bayreuth begins and his epic Der Ring des Nibelungen can finally be premiered. The performance is attended by Ludwig who is slowly losing his mind, while living in his...
Cast
Richard Burton
Richard Wagner
Marthe Keller
Mathilde Wesendonck
Miguel Herz-Kestranek
Hans von Bülow
Laurence Olivier
Pfeuffer
Ralph Richardson
Pfordten
Vanessa Redgrave
Cosima von Bulow
John Gielgud
Pfistermeister
László Gálffi
King Ludwig II of Bavaria
