Stories of the Wagner Opera

Wagner was greatly troubled in the beginning of his career about the choice of subjects for his operas. His first famous work, "Rienzi," is founded upon the same historical basis as Bulwer's novel bearing the same name, and is a tragic opera in five acts. The composer wrote the poem and the first two acts of the score in 1838, during his residence at Riga, and from there carried it with him to Boulogne. There he had an interview with Meyerbeer, after his memorable sea journey. Wag-ner submitted his libretto and the score for the first acts to that famous composer, who is reported to have said, "Rienzi is the best opera-book extant," and who gave him introductions to musical directors and publishers in Paris. In spite of this encouraging verdict on Meyer-beer's part, Wagner soon discovered that there was no chance of suc-cess for "Rienzi" in France, and, after completing the score while dwelling at Meudon, he forwarded it in 1841 to Dresden.