author

Robert C. Bagar

1899–1957

A lively guide to classical music written by a longtime music journalist and broadcaster, with a special gift for making big composers and complex works feel approachable. Best known for books on Wagner and orchestral music, he helped bring concert listening to a wider American audience.

1 Audiobook

Wagner and His Music-Dramas

Wagner and His Music-Dramas

by Robert C. Bagar

About the author

Born in New York in 1899, Robert C. Bagar was an American music writer, lecturer, and broadcaster whose work focused on helping general audiences enjoy classical music. Library and book records from his lifetime and later reprints confirm him as the author of The Concert Companion, Wagner on Records, and Wagner and His Music-Dramas, showing a career centered on musical appreciation and listening.

Bagar wrote in a clear, welcoming style that aimed to explain composers, orchestral works, and opera without talking down to readers. His books suggest a practical mission: to serve concertgoers and record listeners who wanted context, guidance, and a stronger connection to the music.

He died in 1957. While detailed biographical material appears to be limited online, his books have remained discoverable through major library catalogs and public-domain archives, which points to the lasting usefulness of his work for readers interested in classical music.