After Richard Wagner, opera would never be the same.
His vision was so radical he doubted it could ever be staged in a normal theatre. The epic Ring Cycle alone took 25 years to bring into being, demanding singers of superhuman stamina, an expanded orchestra, and an audience willing to immerse itself completely. That idea still lives on at the Bayreuth Festival, founded to present Wagner’s works as all-encompassing experiences rather than after-work entertainment.
Wagner tore up the old operatic rulebook. Gone were the neat alternations of aria, duet, and chorus; in their place came vast through-composed scenes driven by shifting harmonies and interwoven leitmotifs—those short, memorable themes associated with a character, object, or idea. He didn’t invent leitmotifs, but he made them the backbone of musical drama, a technique later borrowed by everyone from Puccini to John Williams.
He also reimagined the orchestra. Trumpets and bass clarinets were suddenly given starring roles; new instruments like the Wagner tuba were created; textures became richer, darker, more dramatic. The sound world of modern opera and film scores would be unimaginable without him.
Wagner’s operas can be intoxicating, unsettling, even problematic. His politics and prejudices cast long shadows, and critics still wrestle with their presence in the works. Yet directors and performers have continually reinterpreted his dramas, finding fresh ways to challenge their ideology while preserving their psychological intensity and sheer sonic power.
Love him or loathe him, Wagner’s operas remain among the most enthralling, provocative, and transformative experiences the stage can offer.
So where should you start with Wagner? His output is small but mighty: 13 operas, each ambitious, many groundbreaking, some flawed, and several utterly transformative. From youthful misfires to towering masterpieces, Wagner charted a path that reshaped opera forever—expanding its scale, deepening its psychology, and giving us some of the most intoxicating music ever written. Here, we rank all 13 Wagner operas, from early triumphs to the visionary works that changed the course of music history.
Wagner operas ranked, worst to best
13. Die Feen (The Fairies, 1834)
Wagner’s first opera, Die Feen (The Fairies, 1834), is rarely staged but fascinating as a glimpse of the composer’s beginnings. Strongly influenced by Carl Maria von Weber and German Romantic opera, it’s full of youthful energy but lacks the originality of his later works. For Wagner fans, it’s a curiosity—an apprentice piece showing early flashes of the giant to come.
12. Das Liebesverbot
(The Ban on Love, 1836)
Loosely based on Shakespeare’s Measure for Measure, Wagner's second completed opera is a lively but uneven experiment in the Italianate comic style. Brimming with youthful enthusiasm, it swaps German Romanticism for sun-drenched exuberance, yet its clumsy drama and patchy score keep it a rarity. Still, it offers a quirky glimpse of Wagner before his mature voice took shape.
11. Rienzi (1842)
A grandiose, early epic, Rienzi showcases Wagner's vaulting ambition - but not yet his mastery. Inspired by French grand opera, it features enormous choruses, elaborate staging, and melodramatic heroics, reflecting Wagner’s youthful fascination with spectacle and political drama. While rarely performed today, Rienzi is important historically: it marks the first hints of the compositional genius and dramatic vision that would later define his mature works, offering thrilling moments of grandeur alongside its occasional excesses.
10. Das Rheingold (1869)
The Ring Cycle's opening instalment is a marvel of orchestral imagination and harmonic daring. From the shimmering opening of the Rhine to the ominous motifs of the gods and giants, every note builds a rich mythic world. Its innovative use of leitmotifs lays the groundwork for the epic dramas to follow. Yet, with its largely expository and ceremonial tone, Das Rheingold feels more like an introduction than a fully gripping emotional journey, making it less immediately dramatic than the subsequent operas.
9. Siegfried (1876)
Part Three of the Ring Cycle radiates youthful energy and adventurous spirit, following the naïve hero as he grows into his destiny. The score sparkles with orchestral brilliance, from the playful motifs of Act I to the haunting 'Forest Murmurs' in Act II, capturing nature and magic in vivid sound. Despite its musical brilliance, though, Siegfried’s relentless bravado and episodic structure can feel overlong, making it the least consistently compelling of the Ring Cycle. Still, it’s essential for its dramatic development and inventive orchestration.
8. Götterdämmerung (1876)
The Ring Cycle's monumental finale is a sprawling and often uneven masterpiece, blending tragedy, myth, and apocalypse on an epic scale. The opera traces the tragic downfall of gods and heroes, culminating in the destruction of Valhalla and the redemption of the Rhine. While its length and episodic structure can challenge audiences, the sheer power of its orchestral climaxes, the intensity of the leitmotif weaving, and the dramatic weight of the finale make it one of Wagner’s most overwhelming achievements. Götterdämmerung is both a thrilling conclusion to the Ring and a profound meditation on fate, power, and sacrifice.
7. Tannhäuser (1845, revised 1861)
Tannhäuser was Wagner's first major triumph, and signalled the arrival of a revolutionary new voice in opera. It explores the tension between sacred devotion and earthly desire, following the titular knight as he struggles with love, sin, and redemption. Its dramatic intensity, soaring vocal lines, and richly expressive orchestration reveal Wagner grappling with themes—spiritual longing, human frailty, and transcendence—that would dominate his later works. Tannhäuser combines medieval legend with emotional depth, establishing Wagner as a bold innovator in both music and dramatic storytelling.
6. Der fliegende Holländer (The Flying Dutchman, 1843)
Wagner’s fourth completed opera marks a turning point in his development, blending myth, romance, and psychological drama with remarkable musical innovation. Even as an early work, it demonstrates Wagner’s mastery of leitmotifs, using recurring themes to represent the cursed sailor, love, and redemption. Its stormy orchestration and intense vocal writing create a dark, gripping atmosphere, while the opera’s moral and emotional stakes feel fully realized. The Flying Dutchman stands as a powerful, self-contained masterpiece, foreshadowing the grandeur of the later Ring Cycle.
5. Lohengrin (1850)
1850's Lohengrin is a luminous fairy tale, the story of a mysterious knight who arrives in Antwerp to defend Elsa, is accused of murdering her brother, and marries her under the condition that she never ask his name. Its ethereal orchestration, soaring vocal lines, and the unforgettable Bridal Chorus combine to create a magical, accessible work. Lohengrin balances romance, suspense, and mysticism, making it one of Wagner’s most enduring and enchanting operas.
4. Parsifal (1882)
Wagner’s final opera is a masterpiece of spiritual and musical depth. The story follows Parsifal, the “pure fool,” as he journeys to the Grail Castle, confronting sin, temptation, and suffering, ultimately bringing healing and redemption to the wounded king and the knights. Wagner’s mystical orchestration, rich leitmotifs, and contemplative pacing create an almost sacred atmosphere, blending drama with meditative reflection. Parsifal is celebrated for its emotional intensity, harmonic innovation, and profound exploration of compassion, making it one of Wagner’s greatest and most transcendent works.
3. Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg (1868)
Wagner’s only mature comedy, Meistersinger also one of his most human, uplifting works.
The opera follows the young knight Walther von Stolzing, who seeks to win the hand of Eva by proving himself in a mastersingers’ singing contest, guided by the wise Hans Sachs. Through humor, romance, and clever social commentary, Wagner explores creativity, tradition, and the balance between innovation and discipline.
Musically, Meistersinger brims with brilliant orchestration, memorable choruses, and richly drawn characters, all woven into a tightly structured, through-composed score. Its warmth, optimism, and celebration of human ingenuity make Die Meistersinger not only one of Wagner’s most accessible operas, but also one of his most enduringly rewarding, combining profound musical mastery with timeless storytelling.
2. Die Walküre (The Valkyries, 1870)
The second part of the Ring Cycle is widely regarded as its emotional heart.
The story follows the doomed love between the twin siblings Siegmund and Sieglinde, who meet unaware of their kinship, and the intervention of the god Wotan, father to the Valkyries, who ultimately must uphold divine law over human desire. Act I’s passionate love scenes, filled with soaring vocal lines and vivid orchestration, are among Wagner’s most intense and moving. Later, Wotan’s farewell to his daughter Brünnhilde, defying his own edicts, combines emotional depth with monumental musical power.
From the stormy orchestral prelude to the intimate and tragic duets, Die Walküre balances human drama with mythic scope. Its leitmotifs, psychological subtlety, and unforgettable melodies make it not just the emotional core of the Ring, but a towering achievement in opera, celebrated for its intensity, complexity, and sheer theatrical impact.
And the best Wagner opera is...
1. Tristan und Isolde (1865)
Wagner’s ninth opera is widely considered the summit of his artistic achievement – and one of the most revolutionary operas in music history.
The story follows the doomed love between Tristan, a Cornish knight, and Isolde, an Irish princess betrothed to King Marke. After accidentally consuming a love potion, their passion becomes irresistible, yet their love is doomed by duty, honor, and fate. Wagner’s music mirrors their obsessive longing: endless, arching phrases, chromatic harmonies, and unresolved tensions create a sense of perpetual yearning.
The famous Tristan chord alone signalled a radical break with traditional tonality, influencing generations of composers from Mahler to Schoenberg and beyond. Every element—vocal lines, orchestration, leitmotifs—is fused into a seamless emotional and musical fabric, creating an immersive experience of desire, despair, and transcendence. Its intensity and audacity set a new standard for dramatic music, merging psychological depth with harmonic daring. Tristan und Isolde is not just an opera; it is a transformative work that reshaped the possibilities of musical expression, leaving an indelible mark on the history of Western music.
