Kholodova L. Richard Wagner: Becoming an Artist in the Early Years of Creativity (1813-1839)

In this dissertation ,the development of Richard Wagner as a composer ,creator of poetic opera texts and conductor is considered as an example of an early period of his work. This early period of his creative work includes years of study, the beginning of independent activity as a conductor of provincial German theaters in Wuerzburg, Magdeburg, Königsberg as well as two unfinished opera projects and three completed operas. The methodological basis of the work comprises the early development of R. Wagner’s creative life, which involves the interaction of crucial biographical circumstances for his later achievements, peculiarities in his artistic environment and the creative impulses caused by them. These decisive circumstances triggered the stunning self-expression of the artist, the formation of his personality through intensive use of opportunities and the overcoming of obstacles as well as negative actions across life span. In the analysis of the early opera works of the composer, the historical and biographical method is combined together with achievements of modern opera and libretology. Sections cover the years from birth to the beginning of R. Wagner's independent conducting activities; Wagner's activities as a choral conductor at the German theaters in Wuerzburg and the first completed opera "The Fairies"; Wagner's expansion in the field of practice during his position as a conductor at theatres in Magdeburg and Königsberg; the appearance of a beloved woman in the life of a young musician, actress Minna Planer, who became his muse and companion for the next 32 years; the concept of the lyric-comic opera "To Endure Love", the plot of which was independently rethought based on the play "Measure for Measure" by W. Shakespeare; Wagner's tenure as senior conductor of the German Theater in Riga and the plan of the great historical opera "Rienzi", embodied in the text of the libretto and at the beginning of the work on the music. The history of creation and the main content of the unfinished opera "The Wedding" are discussed in detail for the first time in Ukrainian musicology. This opera initiated Wagner to become a librettist. It is concluded that despite the different genre direction (great romantic opera, lyric comedy, historical opera drama) all three works testify that R. Wagner has had mastered the great theatrical form and modern techniques of opera writing.