Richard Wagner Monument, Leipzig

The Richard Wagner Monument in Leipzig honors the city's famed composer, playwright, and conductor, Richard Wagner (1813-1883), who is celebrated for his groundbreaking contributions to the Romantic era of music. Known for his complex musical dramas and innovative use of leitmotifs, Wagner sought to create a "total work of art" that combined music, poetry, and drama. His works, particularly the opera cycle "Ring des Nibelungen," showcase his development of these themes into a systematic method that influenced the evolution of music well into the modern era.

Unveiled in 2013 to mark Wagner's 200th birthday, the monument was created by artist Stephan Balkenhol and incorporates the original plinth design by Max Klinger from over a century ago. Located on the northwest side of Leipzig's city center in the green spaces at Goerdelerring, the monument is positioned on a staircase that once led from Fleischerplatz to Matthäi-Kirchhof.

The monument's base, a white marble cuboid designed by Klinger, measures 2 meters in edge length and stands 2.9 meters high. It features reliefs of larger-than-life figures from Wagner's works, including the three Rhinemaidens from "Der Ring des Nibelungen," symbolizing music, poetry, and drama. The left side shows Siegfried, Mime, and the slain dragon, while the right depicts the Grail keeper Parsifal and the Grail messenger Kundry.

Atop this base stands a 1.8-meter tall, colored bronze statue of a young Wagner in everyday attire, reflecting Leipzig as his birthplace and the setting of his formative years. Rising behind this figure is a four-meter-high black bronze plate, shaped like the silhouette of an older Wagner, symbolizing his monumental life's work. This shadowy figure is inspired by Klinger's original design for a statue of Wagner. Balkenhol described his creation as a paraphrase of Klinger's vision, merging historical tribute with contemporary interpretation.