German composer and musician. During Nietzsche's youth, his music, which aimed to elevate art to the level of ancient Greek tragedy, gave the philosopher great hope, but he later became one of Nietzsche's greatest intellectual enemies as he veered toward Christian themes, German nationalism, and anti-Semitism.
He first worked shoulder to shoulder with Nietzsche on the Bayreuth project, praising the young philologist's talents for his own artistic goal. His change of direction in 1878 with the opera Parsifal irrevocably parted their ways.
An influential and imposing German artist, a flamboyant posture that creates a mesmerizing aura on stage.
Arthur Schopenhauer
The master philosopher upon whom he based his musical and philosophical roots.
Friedrich Nietzsche
A young intellect who first saw him as a prophet, then became his harshest critic and enemy.