A Royal Affair
Donald Macleod explores Wagner’s entanglements with King Ludwig and Cosima Liszt – love, patronage, and public disgrace.
Donald Macleod explores two of Wagner’s most defining relationships: with King Ludwig II of Bavaria, who bankrolled his dreams, and with Cosima Liszt, the young woman who would become his muse, lover, and eventually wife. Wagner’s fantasy of artistic freedom and romantic fulfilment seem within reach – but lavish spending, court gossip, and a scandalous affair threaten to unravel it all…
Albumblatt (arr. August Wilhelmj) 
Renaud Capuçon, violin
Guillaume Bellom, piano
Huldigungsmarsch
London Symphony Orchestra
Marek Janowski, conductor
Lohengrin, Act III: In fernem Land 'Grail Narration'
Jonas Kaufmann, tenor
Mahler Chamber Orchestra  
Claudio Abbado, conductor
Tristan und Isolde, Extract from Act II
Deborah Polaski (Isolde), soprano
Johan Botha (Tristan), tenor
Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra
Wiener Singverein
Bertrand de Billy, conductor
Siegfried, Love duet from Act III Scene 3
Jess Thomas (Siegfried), tenor
Helga Dernesch (Brünhilde), soprano
Berliner Philharmoniker
Herbert von Karajan, conductor
Produced by Ellie Ajao for Âé¶¹Éç Audio Wales and West.
Last on
Music Played
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Richard Wagner
Huldigungsmarsch
Orchestra: London Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Marek Janowski.- VIRGIN : 562-0342.
- VIRGIN.
- 3.
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Richard Wagner
Lohengrin, Act 3, Scene 3, Mein Liebe Schwan!
Orchestra: Vienna Philharmonic. Choir: Vienna State Opera Choir. Conductor: Claudio Abbado. Singer: Cheryl Studer. Singer: Kurt Moll. Singer: Waltraud Meier.- DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON : 437808-2.
- DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON.
- 11.
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Richard Wagner
Lohengrin, Act 3, Scene.3, In fernem Land
Singer: Jonas Kaufmann. Orchestra: Mahler Chamber Orchestra. Conductor: Claudio Abbado.- DECCA : 478-1463.
- DECCA.
- 1.
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Richard Wagner
Albumblatt WWV 94 arr. for violin and piano
Performer: Renaud Capuçon. Performer: Guillaume Bellom.- ERATO : 9029652001.
- ERATO.
- 7.
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Richard Wagner
Tristan und Isolde, Act 2 (excerpt)
Singer: Deborah Polaski. Singer: Johan Botha. Orchestra: Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra. Choir: Wiener Singverein. Conductor: Bertrand de Billy.- OEHMS : OC-626.
- OEHMS.
- 4.
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Richard Wagner
Siegfried, Act 3, Scene.3 (excerpt)
Singer: Jess Thomas. Singer: Gerhard Stolze. Singer: Tommy Stewart. Singer: Helga Dernesch. Singer: Zoltán Kelemen. Singer: Oralia Dominguez. Singer: Karl Ridderbusch. Singer: Catherine Gayer. Orchestra: Berliner Philharmoniker. Conductor: Herbert von Karajan.- DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON : 479-636-1.
- DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON.
- 50.
Broadcast
- Thu 20 Nov 2025 16:00Âé¶¹Éç Radio 3
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