Advertisement

How Wagner and his musical legacy reverberate at the cineplex

Share

This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. See About archive blog posts.

Anyone paying attention to the arts scene knows that Wagner’s ‘Ring’ cycle is now being staged by Los Angeles Opera. But even if you haven’t made it over to the Music Center, there’s no doubt that you’ve been exposed to the composer’s music and influence.

In words and with video clips here, Jon Burlingame looks at 10 great ways film has used bits and pieces of Wagner’s compositions. Most memorable is the helicopter scene, above, from ‘Apocalypse Now.’

Advertisement

Francis Ford Coppola’s 1979 film contains, Burlingame writes, perhaps the most famous modern-day use of Wagner’s ‘Ride of the Valkyries,’ which opens Act 3 of the ‘Ring’s’ ‘Die Walküre.’

And in this story, Burlingame tells why Wagner is considered by many to be the man who invented movie music.

RECENT AND RELATED:

Underscoring Richard Wagner’s influence on film music

A pop critic takes on the ‘Ring’: A little pit of punk with ‘Siegfried’ at Los Angeles Opera

A pop critic takes on the ‘Ring’: Of Valkyries and vocal magnificence

Advertisement

A pop music critic takes on Wagner’s ‘Ring’ cycle. First up: ‘Das Rheingold’

Mission accomplished: L.A. Opera’s ‘Ring’

A lover of theater braves Wagner’s world of the ‘Ring’

Advertisement