Experience the stormy relationship between Richard Wagner and the French Romantics. Initially captivated by Wagner’s bold innovations, French composers embraced his music as a model. However, following the Franco-Prussian War, a surge of patriotism led them to reject German influence, sparking a search for a distinctly Gallic musical identity. This shift coincided with a broader rebellion against Romanticism, pushing the French toward a new musical language that anticipated modernism.Yet despite their efforts, did they ever truly escape Wagner’s shadow?
