Richard Wagner

German composer and poet of the 19th century (Leipzig, 1813 - Venice, 1883), who is internationally regarded as one of the greatest geniuses of musical composition. Wagner is the one who transformed opera into a "music drama": an ideal blend of music, poetry, dance, and visual delight. A significant aspect of this combination was the systematic use of the "leitmotif," a guiding musical theme for each different hero, object, or fundamental idea of the work.