Definition

1. Proper noun:
   • A German composer (1813-1883): Richard Wagner was a composer known for creating operas (which he called "music dramas") that combined music, drama, and spectacle into a unified art form.
   • The music composed by Richard Wagner: This refers to the body of musical works, primarily his operas, created by the composer.
   • An Austrian architect (1841-1918): Otto Wagner was an architect who was a significant figure in the development of modern architecture, particularly in Vienna.

Usage Examples

• Proper noun (Person):

  • The festival is dedicated to performing the works of Wagner. (The event focuses on presenting the operas composed by Richard Wagner.)
  • Otto Wagner designed several iconic buildings in Vienna. (The architect Otto Wagner created famous structures in that city.)

• Proper noun (Music):

  • The orchestra will play Wagner tonight. (The orchestra's performance will feature music composed by Richard Wagner.)
  • Listening to Wagner requires concentration. (The music of Richard Wagner is complex and demands attentive listening.)

Advanced Usage

• "Wagnerian" (adjective): Describing something as reminiscent of or characteristic of Richard Wagner's music or style, often implying something is epic, dramatic, or intense in scale.
  • The film's score had a Wagnerian grandeur. (The movie's music was impressively large-scale and dramatic, similar to Wagner's style.)

Variants and Related Words

• Wagnerian (adj/n): Pertaining to Richard Wagner or his works; also a term for an admirer or scholar of his work.
  • She is a noted Wagnerian scholar. (She is an expert who studies Richard Wagner's life and music.)

Synonyms

• Composer (for Richard Wagner): A person who writes music.
• Architect (for Otto Wagner): A person who designs buildings.

Notes on Different Meanings

• The word Wagner most commonly and primarily refers to Richard Wagner, the German composer. When used without context (e.g., "I enjoy Wagner"), it is universally understood to refer to him or his music.
• The reference to Otto Wagner, the architect, is a distinct meaning and is typically specified by context or full name to avoid ambiguity.

Noun

1. the music of Wagner
   • they say that Hitler listened only to Wagner
2. German composer of operas and inventor of the musical drama in which drama and spectacle and music are fused (1813-1883)
3. Austrian architect and pioneer of modern architecture (1841-1918)