16 February/March 2013 17 he citizens of Leipzig Wagner’s time in Dresden cul- made their first attempt minated in his legendary partici- to erect a monumental pation in the revolutionary May The composer’s traces in Saxony tribute to one of the The early Wagner Uprising of 1849. The rebellion Liebethaler Gorge Tcity’s greatest sons 100 years was crushed after just a few days. The Wesenitz river flows through the Think of Richard Wagner and the first place that springs to mind is ago. The respected sculptor Max Saxony marks the famous composer’s bicentenary with a program of events Wagner fled Dresden a wanted Liebethaler Gorge just a few minutes by car Bayreuth. But the composer was born and raised in Saxony, where Klinger, who also hailed from man and was fortunate enough from Graupa. At one point, visitors encounter he gradually matured into the great artist he was destined to be. the city, designed a three-part in his hometown Leipzig and in Dresden to escape to Switzerland. The a 12.5 meter monument built into the walls of ensemble consisting of a flight warrant for his arrest remained this wildly romantic valley: an outsized statue Here, we present some of Wagner’s key biographical locations in of steps, plinth and statue. But By Klaus Grimberg in force for almost 13 years, and of Richard Wagner as Knight of the Grail, what was, at the time, the Kingdom of Saxony. when the day came to officially he wasn’t able to return to Saxony with five allegorical creatures kneeling at his lay the foundation stone in the until his amnesty in March 1862. feet symbolizing the sentiments of his music. Promenadenring park on May 22, For Dresden, but above all for This solemn tribute to Wagner’s genius is the 1913, Richard Wagner’s 100th his birthplace Leipzig, the Wagner work of the painter and sculptor Richard Leipzig birthday, only the steps were bicentenary is a chance to finally Guhr (1873-1956), an ardent admirer of the Richard Wagner was born on May 22, 1813 complete. step out of the overpowering composer. Completed in 1912 in model form, in an inn called the “Red and White Lion” on a In the turmoil of World War I, shadow of Bayreuth and attain the ensemble was forgotten in the aftermath street called the Brühl. His parents’ ninth child, and after Klinger’s death in 1920, recognition as key locations in of World War I. In 1928, the figures were cast he was baptized almost three months later at St. the monument idea was gradually Wagner’s biography. 2013 is the in bronze, and the monument’s official inau- Thomas’ Church. His birthplace was demolished forgotten. The almost-completed first major Wagner anniversary guration in the Liebethaler Gorge finally took /RENE PECH H place on May 21, 1933, the eve of the 120th in 1886 – the only visible reminder of it today plinth with scenes from famous since the political upheaval sur- B M is an outline on the facade of a now disused Wagner operas was erected in rounding the fall of the Berlin anniversary of Wagner’s birth. The huge sculp- ACHSEN ACHSEN ture, which almost ended up in the smelting department store. The site is also identified by 1924 in the park on the outskirts Wall and the reunification of Ger- S T a memorial plaque. Richard was a pupil at the of the city. And in the 1970s, the many in 1989/90. In communist F furnaces during World War II, is the world’s Old St. Nicholas’ School between 1828 and steps were even cleared to make East Germany, although Wagner’s largest monument to Wagner. ESELLSCHA www.graupa-online.de 1830, and the faithfully restored assembly hall way for the construction of an works were often performed at G has been named after him. From May, this hall imposing new regional headquar- theaters across the nation, authori- will host a permanent exhibition documenting ters for the East German secret ties largely avoided any sort of The imposing Wagner monument in the US MARKETING Liebethaler Gorge was unveiled on May 21, Wagner’s early life in Leipzig. Visitors to Leipzig police, the Stasi. public tribute to the composer. It M 1933 and is the world’s largest tribute can already explore the town’s “Wagner trails” But now, in the run up to the wasn’t until 1983, the 100th anni- OURIS T to the composer. as detailed in a highly informative leaflet pub- 200th birthday of the great com- versary of his death, that Leipzig lished by the local Richard Wagner Association. poser, his hometown is making town council erected a bronze bust Oederan and Müglenz The trails lead to, among other places, the Old St. its second attempt to finally com- made to the specifications of Max John’s Cemetery, and the graves of his favorite plete the monument. In 2010, the Klinger’s 1904 design in a park Incorrigible Wagnerians will also find something to interest them in the tranquil village of Oederan on sister Rosalie and his mother Johanna. steps were reconstructed from close to the opera house. the edge of the Erz Mountains, some 50 kilometers to the southwest of Dresden. This is the birthplace www.kulturstiftung-leipzig.de the original parts and restored to In just a few months’ time, of Minna Planer, the first wife of Richard Wagner. Her name appears in the parish register of the local church on Oct. 8, 1809. Only in recent years has research into the life and work of Wagner assigned US their original site; the plinth was Wagner will receive the great M then added after a painstaking monument that his admirers more importance to the role played by Minna, highlighting her influence as worthy of greater attention. Wagner’s place of birth, Another largely unknown Wagner site is Müglenz, located in the administrative district of Leipzig to an inn called the “Red and White Lion,” restoration effort. And on May believe he has long deserved. the northwest of the town. This is the site of the church where Wagner’s great-grandfather worked in a photo from 1886. TOURIS LEIPZIG 22, a statue of Wagner will finally Stephan Balkenhol’s shows the be unveiled, a new design by the figure of the young composer on as a schoolmaster, cantor Ermlitz internationally renowned sculptor the brink of his career success, and organist, and where Stephan Balkenhol. when he was still an unknown. Wagner’s grandfather Ermlitz manor house, half an hour by car to the west of Leipzig town center, is an architectural The twists and turns of this par- Behind the figure looms a four- Gottlob Friedrich was and cultural gem. The estate was used as a summer residence by the Apel family, wealthy citizens ticular saga symbolize Leipzig’s meter silhouette, which symbol- born. Veteran Bayreuth of Leipzig. Young Richard was close friends with Guido Theodor Apel (1811-1867), who was two perpetually troubled relationship izes Wagner’s gigantic oeuvre, but Festival director Wolf- years his senior. The intensity of this friendship is evidenced by 42 letters written by Wagner between with the composer. It was an also its reception and interpreta- gang Wagner, Richard’s the years 1832 and 1836. The two met at St. Nicholas’ School, and their friendship flourished /RENE PECH grandson, held a benefit H ambivalent relationship even when tion. There can be few better ways B through their shared love of music. Richard was often a guest at Ermlitz; he set one of his friend’s M he was alive: The young musician to portray the intense complex- concert to raise funds for poems to music and wrote an overture to a play written by Apel titled “Columbus”. Follow- a complete refurbishment ACHSEN failed to attain his artistic break- ity of the relationship between S T ing World War II, the F through in his hometown, and Richard Wagner the man and of the church after 2001. manor house was used even later, many of his operas were the towering shadow cast by his www.oederan.de as a children’s home ESELLSCHA only performed there after much work. n G until 1999. Since hesitation and foot-dragging. But The entry for Minna then, descendants of Planer, Wagner’s first this year, any lingering cracks are It’s all about Wagner – in Leipzig, the Apel family have wife, in the baptismal US MARKETING to be finally smoothed over: “Rich- Dresden and of course Bayreuth. M carried out a faith- registry of ard – Leipzig born and bred…” – is Other German cities are honoring OURIS ful restoration of the Oederan church. T the slogan of the cultural program the composer in the programs of estate, which can be with which the city will honor the FÜHRER PICTURE-ALLIANCE/DPA/MARCUS their opera houses. accessed on public musical genius. – he attended the School of the Apostles” in the Church of Our 13-02-13_111_ID100_eAz_Image_»Atlantic Times, German Times, Asia Pacific Times«_290x260mm Satzspiegel_4c (ZEITUNG)_oc_Fassung 02 guided tours. A new permanent exhibi- Holy Cross there for three-and- Lady, a powerful orchestral work www.kultur-gut- tion titled “The Young Richard a-half years from late 1822. for more than 100 musicians – an ermlitz.de Wagner, 1813 to 1834” is set Much more important are his ensemble to which he also added to open on the eve of the 200th activities at the Royal Saxon 1,200 choristers. In 1845, Wagner H E RR EN K NE CH T A G | UTI L IT Y TUNNE LL ING | T R AFFI C TUNNE LL ING LITZ M The young Wagner birthday in the Old St.