Bicentenary Richard Wagner

Wagner's splendid early opera

The artistry of the OBC - Catalonia's national orchestra - and the Liceu unite in defence of this youthful work of Wagner.

Rienzi, der letzte der Tribunen (Rienzi, the Last of the Tribunes; Dresden, 1842) is a «tragic grand opera» by Richard Wagner. A youthful work, strongly marked by French grand opéra, it is a far cry from the future Wagnerian drama and has been lambasted by «orthodox» Wagnerians. Cola di Rienzo, a historical personage, aspired to rebuild the Roman empire and set himself up as the people's tribune. He was opposed by the aristocracy and received intermittent support from the papacy before being assassinated in the course of a rebellion. Wagner depicted him as a magnanimous Romantic hero, bent on restoring power to the people and greatness to the fatherland, who is destroyed by the intrigues of the powerful and the ignorance of the voluble but petty populace.

Grosse tragische Oper in five acts. Libretto and music by Richard Wagner, based on the novel by Edward G. Bulwer-Lytton. First performed at the Königlich Sächsisches Hoftheater in Dresden on 20 October 1842. First performance at the Gran Teatre del Liceu on 20 January1951.