In 1848 Wagner was obliged to leave the country on account of political troubles. Switzerland became his home. The beautiful scenery there afforded the composer much pleasure. The snow-capped Alps could be seen all about, and in many places clear mountain lakes reflected the blue skies above.
Wagner lived in Switzerland about ten years. In that time he composed several operas. He wrote not only the music for these operas, but the words as well. The words alone form beautiful poems. Four of the operas written in Switzerland tell the old fairy story of the gold hidden at the bottom of the Rhine. Indeed, the first one of them is called The Rhinegold. Richard Wagner put the legend into poetry and then composed exquisite music to fit the words.
While Wagner was in Switzerland, the German people were learning to love his music more and more. You remember that Lohengrin was written just before he left Germany. At that time it had not been sung.
G. Papperitz
RICHARD WAGNER AT BAYREUTH
Franz Liszt, a friend of Wagner's, became greatly interested in Lohengrin. Under his direction it was sung in a small town. All who heard it liked the beautiful story and still more beautiful music. Soon nearly every one in Germany had heard Lohengrin, the beautiful opera of the Swan Knight.
Wagner, far from home, was cheered by the news that his opera was well liked. He longed to hear it himself. He said: "Nearly every German has heard Lohengrin. Soon I shall be the only one who has not heard it."
After many years Wagner returned to the Fatherland. He and the king of Bavaria became great friends. The king had heard Lohengrin sung many times. It was his favorite opera. It is said that he used to dress himself in armor like Lohengrin's and sail about the lake in a swan boat for hours at a time.
The king thought the theaters in Germany were not well built. He thought that a special opera house should be erected in which Wagner's operas could be given. Plans were made and a model opera house was built.