Rienzi

Rienzi
by Richard Wagner
Wagner, ca. 1840
Genre	Opera in 5 acts
Native title	Rienzi, der Letzte der Tribunen
Translation	Rienzi, the Last of the Tribunes
Librettist	Richard Wagner
Language	German
Based on	Novel by Edward Bulwer-Lytton
Premiere	Semperoper, Dresden, Germany 29 October 1842

Rienzi is an opera by Richard Wagner. Its full title is Rienzi, der Letzte der Tribunen (Rienzi, the Last of the Tribunes). It is one of the earliest operas Wagner wrote. There are five acts. Wagner wrote the libretto himself, using the story from a novel by Edward Bulwer-Lytton. It was composed between 1838 and 1840 It was first performed at the Hofoper, Dresden on 20 October 1842. It was the first time Wagner had a success as an opera composer.

The story of the opera is set in Rome and is based on the life of Cola di Rienzi (1313–1354), a medieval Italian populist figure who manages to trick the nobles and their followers. He helps the people to get power. At first he is very popular, but then he has to use force against the nobles, and the Church turns against him. In the end the ordinary people burn the Capitol where Rienzi and his friends are sheltering.

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