Sourcebooks MediaFusion and Naxos proudly present this fascinating biography of composer Richard Wagner. Acclaimed music writer Stephen Johnson follows Wagner’s development as man and composer, and sets out the experiences—the personal joys and sorrows as well as the broader cultural forces—that formed him and made him one of the most widely loved composers in classical music.

Wagner was an innovator both in harmony and in the structure of his operas, frequently applying themes or melodies to a particular character or event. He created his own version of the “Gesamtkunstwerk,” compositions in which the arts were brought together into a single unity.

Included are two CDs of carefully chosen Wagner pieces.

Readers also gain access to an exclusive website that offers new essays, the musical works in full and more. This revolutionary biography utilizes traditional and new media to provide a uniquely rounded portrait of the composer and his music.