Limericks re-telling the plots of the Ring operas may be found here: Ring (2019). Limericks re-telling the plots of the canonical non-Ring opera may be found here: non-Ring (2020). Additional limericks on Wagner are here: Wagner (2021). A post on Morrissey is here. 2023 Wagner limericks are here.
Richard Wagner (22 May 1813 – 13 February 1883) revolutionized opera in the last half of the nineteenth century.
A Wagnerian Tetralogy
Ludwig was likely the savior of Wagner's career; without Ludwig, Wagner's later operas are unlikely to have been composed. – Wikipedia, s.v. “Ludwig II of Bavaria”
(1)
King Ludwig the Second (Bavaria)
Came down with Wagnerian hysteria,
And as a True Believer
He developed a fever
Which the doctors mistook for malaria.
(2)
King Ludwig, on hearing his pitch,
Was mighty impressed, and said,”Rich,
Your musical plays
That continue for days
Are the scratch for my musical itch!”.
(3)
King Ludwig the Second was smitten
With everything Wagner had written.
I read in a book
He preferred him to Gluck,
And was still unacquainted with Britten.
(4)
Between 1872 and 1885, the King had 209 Separatvorstellungen (private performances) given for himself alone or with a guest of 28 performances of Wagner's operas. - Wikipedia, s.v. “Ludwig II of Bavaria”
As he fueled the Wagnerian fad,
The King overspent just a tad.
He would sit on his throne
Watching Wagner alone.
Did I mention that Ludwig was mad?
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