King Ludwig II of Bavaria was 15 years old when he fell in love with Richard Wagner's music.
Ludwig heard a performance of Wagner's opera Lohengrin. Three years later, Ludwig ascended to the throne.
At the time, Wagner owed money to several creditors. The King brought Wagner to Munich in 1864. Ludwig II was 19; Wagner was 51.
Ludwig forgave or settled all of Wagner's debts, although Wagner was forced to leave Munich as a result. The King provided Wagner a place to live in Switzerland.
Eventually, Ludwig II funded Wagner's own private opera playground in Bayreuth. Wagner undoubtedly thrived and survived because of the support and resources of King Ludwig II of Bavaria.
On this week's Learning to Listen, you'll hear music Ludwig fell in love with from Wagner's opera Lohengrin, as well as music that exists from the funding of generous patrons of the arts.
Program Playlist
Igor Stravinsky
Dumbarton Oaks, 3rd movement
Orpheus Chamber Orchestra
DG 445541
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Divertimento, K563, 5th movement
Gidon Kremer, violin
Kim Kashkashian, viola
Yo-Yo Ma, cello
Sony 39561
Jean-Philippe Rameau
Les Boreades: Overture
Orchestra of the 18th Century
Franz Bruggen
Philips 420240
Arcangelo Corelli
Sonata da Chiesa no. 1
London Baroque
Harmonia Mundi 901344
Peter Tchaikovsky
Symphony no. 4, 3rd movement
Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra
Andrew Litton
Virgin 90798
Richard Wagner
Lohengrin: Elsa's Procession to the Cathedral
Solid Brass
Dorian 90108
Benjamin Britten
String Quartet no. 1, 4th movement
Belcea Quartet
EMI 57968
Ludwig van Beethoven
Piano Sonata #12, 1st & 2nd movements
Richard Goode, piano
Nonesuch 79328
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