Minna Wagner: A Life, with Richard Wagner

Minna Planer, Richard Wagner's wife of 30 years, was a self-assured woman and artist who supported him through poverty, illness, and his artistic goals. She played his works to him and sought to provide him with a stable domestic and erotic life. However, their marriage was ultimately destroyed by Wagner's passion for Mathilde Wesendonck. Despite her importance to Wagner's creative life, Minna has been given short shrift by most Wagner commentators.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 320 pages
Publication date: 12 September 2023
Publisher: Boydell & Brewer Ltd

Minna Planer, Richard Wagner's wife of 30 years, emerges as a confident and accomplished woman in this biography. When they first met in 1834, Wagner was an unknown conductor, while Planer was a well-known actress. Their whirlwind romance led to marriage in 1836, and they faced poverty together, with Planer nursing Wagner through his chronic illness. They followed Wagner's artistic pursuits across Europe, escaping creditors and seeking stability. Wagner valued Planer's opinions and played his works to her as he wrote them, including Tannhäuser and Lohengrin. However, their marriage was tested when Wagner went on the run as a revolutionary, and Planer reluctantly followed him into Swiss exile. Despite their reconciliation efforts, their domestic peace was ultimately shattered by Wagner's infatuation with Mathilde Wesendonck. In 1858, they separated, and Planer returned to Germany. Despite her significant role in Wagner's creative life, Minna has often been overlooked by Wagner commentators. However, Eva Rieger's acclaimed biography, translated into English by Chris Walton, sheds light on Planer's remarkable character and her invaluable contributions to Wagner's artistic journey.

Weight: 1g
Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781648250477