631. Wagner: LIVE at the Royal Albert Hall

In this episode of "The Rest Is History," Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook broadcast the second half of their live show from the Royal Albert Hall, focusing on the controversial composer Richard Wagner. They discuss Wagner's immense influence on the 19th century, his colossal egotism, and his late development as a composer, as well as his involvement in the 1848 revolution in Europe. The hosts explore Wagner's Ring Cycle, its sacral nature, and the debate around whether it is laced with the poison of Nazism, ultimately arguing that the Ring Cycle is not a celebration of power and domination but rather an exploration of the enslaving nature of power and a testament to the ultimate power of love. They also touch on Wagner's opera Tristan and Isolde, his complex relationships, and the Wagnermania that gripped Europe, ending the show with a performance of Liebestad.