20 moments

1. Birth at the Brühl

   1813-05-22 · Brühl, Leipzig, Germany

   

   Wagner was born in Leipzig, at the house known as the Red and White Lions on the Brühl. The birthplace building no longer survives; coordinates represent the historic Brühl site.

2. Family move to Dresden

   1814-08-01 · Dresden, Germany

   After his father's death, Wagner moved with his mother and siblings to Ludwig Geyer's residence in Dresden. The source gives August 1814 but not a more specific day.

3. Return to Leipzig

   1827-01-01 · Leipzig, Germany

   Wagner returned to Leipzig with his family, beginning the period in which he pursued harmony studies and encountered major orchestral music. Coordinates represent central Leipzig.

4. Choirmaster appointment

   1833-01-01 · Theatre Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany

   

   Wagner began his professional theatre career as choirmaster at the Theatre Würzburg. Coordinates represent the theatre site; the source supports the year but not a more precise appointment date.

5. Marriage at Tragheim Church

   1836-11-24 · Tragheim Church site, Königsberg (now Kaliningrad), Russia

   

   Wagner married the actress Minna Planer at Tragheim Church after following her to Königsberg. The church was demolished in the 1950s; coordinates mark its documented former site.

6. Opera directorship in Riga

   1837-06-01 · Riga, Latvia

   

   Wagner moved to Riga to become music director of the local opera, a post he held during a financially difficult period. Coordinates represent central Riga; the source does not identify the precise opera-house building.

7. Paris residence in exile

   1839-09-01 · Paris, France

   

   After fleeing creditors from Riga and travelling via London, Wagner and Minna settled in Paris, where he completed Rienzi and Der fliegende Holländer. Coordinates represent central Paris.

8. Move to Dresden for Rienzi

   1842-01-01 · Dresden, Germany

   

   Wagner moved to Dresden after the Dresden Court Theatre accepted Rienzi; he would live there for the next six years and become Royal Saxon Court Conductor. Coordinates represent central Dresden.

9. Exile in Zürich

   1849-01-01 · Zürich, Switzerland

   

   Wagner settled in Zürich after fleeing Saxony. His Swiss exile became a major period of theoretical writing and work on the Ring cycle. The source supports 1849 but gives no more precise arrival date.

10. Flight through Paris

    1849-01-01 · Paris, France

    

    Following the Dresden May Uprising and arrest warrants for revolutionaries, Wagner fled through Paris before taking refuge in Switzerland. The source supports 1849 but gives no more precise date or Paris location.

11. London Philharmonic concerts

    1855-01-01 · London, England, United Kingdom

    During his Zürich exile, Wagner earned income through conducting engagements including several concerts for the Philharmonic Society of London. Coordinates represent central London; the source does not specify the concert venue.

12. Residence at Palazzo Giustinian

    1858-01-01 · Palazzo Giustinian, Dorsoduro, Venice, Italy

    After the collapse of his relationship with Mathilde Wesendonck, Wagner left Zürich for Venice and rented an apartment in Palazzo Giustinian. The source gives the year but not a more precise arrival date.

13. Return to Paris for Tannhäuser

    1859-11-01 · Paris, France

    

    Wagner returned to Paris to oversee the production of a revised Tannhäuser; the 1861 performances became a celebrated fiasco. Coordinates represent central Paris.

14. Settlement in Biebrich

    1862-01-01 · Biebrich, Wiesbaden, Germany

    

    After the political ban against him in the German Confederation was lifted, Wagner settled at Biebrich on the Rhine near Wiesbaden and began work on Die Meistersinger. The source supports 1862 but gives no more precise settlement date.

15. Summoned to Munich by Ludwig II

    1864-01-01 · Munich, Germany

    

    The new Bavarian king Ludwig II brought Wagner to Munich, settled his debts, and promoted performances of his planned operas. Coordinates represent central Munich; the source supports the year but not a more precise arrival date.

16. Residence at Villa Tribschen

    1866-04-01 · Villa Tribschen, Lucerne, Switzerland

    After leaving Munich, Wagner leased Villa Tribschen on Lake Lucerne. It became the household's residence and a major compositional base. The source supports April 1866 but not a specific move-in day.

17. Move to Bayreuth

    1872-01-01 · Bayreuth, Germany

    

    Wagner moved to Bayreuth to realize his plan for a dedicated festival theatre for his music dramas. Coordinates represent central Bayreuth.

18. Conducting the final Parsifal performance

    1882-08-29 · Bayreuth Festspielhaus, Bayreuth, Germany

    

    At the final performance of the second Bayreuth Festival, Wagner unexpectedly took the baton from Hermann Levi and conducted the end of Parsifal.

19. Final arrival in Venice

    1882-09-16 · Ca' Vendramin Calergi, Venice, Italy

    

    After the 1882 Bayreuth Festival, Wagner arrived in Venice with Cosima, their children, and household staff for his final residence.

20. Death at Ca' Vendramin Calergi

    1883-02-13 · Ca' Vendramin Calergi, Venice, Italy

    

    Wagner died of a heart attack during his final Venetian stay at Ca' Vendramin Calergi on the Grand Canal.