The Mad King
Donald Macleod explores how Wagner's talent for escaping trouble hit new heights thanks to a new King of Bavaria.
Wagner's talent for escaping trouble hits new heights thanks to a new King of Bavaria, whose sanity was questionable. The composer, a left-wing revolutionary who had fought on the streets in Dresden, now brought about a revolution in music with the help of a ridiculously spoiled and pampered monarch. King Ludwig happened to be Wagner's number one fan and gave the ever-ambitious composer seemingly limitless financial backing. With Donald Macleod.
Last on
More episodes
Previous
Music Played
-
![]()
Richard Wagner - Das Rheingold: Prelude to Act I
Performer: Bayreuth Festival Orchestra, Daniel Barenboim (conductor)
-
![]()
Richard Wagner - The Valkyrie: Excerpt from Act III
Performer: Wotan: Norman Bailey (bass-baritone), English National Opera Orchestra, Reginald Goodall (conductor)
-
![]()
Richard Wagner - Siegfried: Excerpt from Act II - Scenes 2 & 3
Performer: Siegfried: Jess Thomas (tenor), Fafner: Karl Ridderbusch (bass), Waldvogel: Catherine Gayer (soprano), Alberich: Zoltan Kelemen (bass-baritone), Mime: Gerhard Stolze (tenor), Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, Hebert von Karajan (conductor)
Broadcasts
- Thu 7 Oct 2010 12:00成人快手 Radio 3
- Thu 7 Oct 2010 22:00成人快手 Radio 3
Beethoven Unleashed 鈥� the box set
The complete set of Radio 3 Beethoven Unleashed podcasts, with Donald Macleod.
What was really wrong with Beethoven?
Georgia Mann and neurosurgeon Henry Marsh examine the composer's numerous health problems
Composers A to Z
Visit the extensive audio archive of Radio 3 programmes about Composers and their works.
Who knew? Five eye-opening stories from Composer of the Week
The production team reflects on 5 of Donald Macleod鈥檚 best stories from the last 20 years
Five reasons why we love Parry's Jerusalem
What is the strange power of Jerusalem which makes strong men weep?
A man out of time 鈥� why Parry's music and ideas were at odds with his image...
The composer of Jerusalem was very far from the conservative figure his image suggests.
Composer Help Page
Find resources and contacts for composers from within the classical music industry.