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 Narrationâ€â€¯
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
Gerhard Stolze (Mime), tenor
Thomas Stewart (Wanderer), baritone
Helga Dernesch (Brünhilde), soprano
Zoltán Kéléman (Alberich), baritone
Oralia DomÃnguez (Erda), soprano
Karl Ridderbusch (Fafner), bass
Catherine Gayer (Waldvogel), soprano
Berliner Philharmoniker
Herbert von Karajan, conductor
Produced by Ellie Ajao for ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Audio Wales and West.
On radio
Broadcast
- Thu 20 Nov 2025 16:00ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Radio 3
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