Historically, Richard Wagner had not only made a name for himself as a well known opera composer, but also as a conductor, essayist, theatre director and political figure. Born and raised in Germany, his father passed away when he was less than a year old. His mother remarried shortly after, and the family moved to Dresden where Wagner spent most of his childhood and adolescence exposed to music and the opera scene. It seemed that he had a natural talent for music, which led him to begin taking music and piano lessons and later on, compose operas.

While his private life was full of poverty, exile, and many philosophical turns, his works reflect a very refined and successful life. Many of his operas and compositions have been considered true classics, and are seen in many contemporary movie scores and music. His two most notable pieces of music include the "Ride of the Valkyries" and "Here Comes the Bride." Also seen today are several of his operas, including the recent movie Tristan and Isolde, one of his later operas which is said to parallel a failing affair. In fact, it is suggested that aspects of Wagner's life have been written into several of his operas.

In his later life, Wagner ran into a small fortune when King Ludwig II assumed the throne of Bavaria. At the time, he was living in exile but was brought back to Munich where Ludwig cleared him of his debts and later gave him funds to build his own opera house, the Bayreuth. On the final night of his final opera, Parsifal, Wagner snuck into the pit of the orchestra and conducted the conclusion of the opera. A short time later, he passed away. Several of his operas were not released until after his death. Wagner's operas are his primary artistic legacy.