Richard Wagner became the most powerful influence in music during the second half of the 19th century. Full of German nationalism, Wagner turned away from Classical Mediterranean subject matter and based his librettos on stories from northern European history and legend. Wagner abandoned the formal aria in favor of a dramatic form of melodic recitative, reverting to the original idea of music drama formulated by the early Florentines, in which the text was of most importance. The orchestra became the truest voice in his opera, since it let the audience know what was really happening, regardless of what was being said or done on stage.
Other German composers, among them Heinrich Marschner, Otto Nicolai, and Friedrich von Flotow, wrote operas that were highly successful.
Richard Strauss had written many of his tone poems before he wrote his first successful opera, "Salome". This sensational work, which caused much controversy when first produced, is much more dissonant than anything written by Wagner. In the opinion of most music lovers, Strauss's greatest opera is his charming, tuneful comedy "Der Rosenkavalier".
