Music Man

It's the bicentennial of the birth of Richard Wagner - who, whatever you think about him or his music, was without doubt one of the most important and influential composers of the 19th century.  I think I've mentioned before that I'm not a great fan, particularly of his operas, which is what he is best known for. On the other hand, the overtures which he wrote for those operas are some of his most approachable music - try the one to the third act of Lohengrin or the opening one to The Meistersinger von Nürnberg, and then of course there's the one to the first act of Tristan und Isolde - the famous "Tristan chord".  Yes, if you're prepared to pick your way through you'll probably find something to your taste - and almost certainly, much that isn't!