Richard Wagner Hain

The history of the Leipzig memorial for Richard Wagner (1813 - 1883) is as eventful as the composer' relationship to his native city. Directly after Richard Wagner's death in 1883, a committee for the establishment of a Richard Wagner monument in Leipzig was founded. After several unsatisfactory designs by various artists, the Leipzig sculptor and painter Max Klinger (1857-1920) was commissioned in 1904. He was virtually predestined for this task, having just completed a Wagner bust for the "Leipzig Music Room" at the 1904 World's Fair in St. Louis.

The difficult search for a convincing monumental solution, the outbreak of the 1st World War and lack of funds delayed the planned construction. The death of Max Klinger in 1920 finally destroyed any plans to complete the project. Only the marble base (2m x 2m x 2.9 m), featuring figures from Wagner's operas, could be completed. On top there was intended to be an approx. 5.3 m high statue of Richard Wagner. The base stood from 1924 - 2009 in Klingerhain on the Elster flood bed, also known as Richard Wagner Hain.

The completed monument has been located in the park at Goederlerring since 2010. Today, the Richard Wagner Hain is a park adjacent to the Clara Zetkin Park. In summer, it is the venue of the annual Leipzig Hörspielsommer ("radio play summer").