author
Ferdinand Praeger
1815–1891
A 19th-century musician and writer whose name now turns up most often beside Richard Wagner, he led a varied career as a composer, pianist, teacher, and commentator on music. His posthumously published memoir of Wagner helped keep his name in circulation, even as its claims became a subject of debate.
1 Audiobook
Wagner as I Knew Him
by Ferdinand Praeger
About the author
Born in Leipzig in 1815, Ferdinand Praeger was a composer, pianist, music teacher, and writer on music. He later made his life in London, where he worked in several musical roles rather than being known for just one specialty.
He is now remembered above all for Wagner As I Knew Him, a book published after his death in 1892. The memoir presented him as a close observer of Richard Wagner, though the book later became known as controversial, which has made Praeger an interesting figure for readers curious about both music history and the way artistic reputations are shaped.
Praeger died in London in 1891. While he never remained as famous as some of the major composers around him, his writing and his connection to Wagner have given him a lasting, if unusual, place in 19th-century musical history.