Richard Wagner's suitcase back in Saxony

The Richard Wagner sites in Graupa near Dresden have been enriched by several objects and documents from the composer's life. The Wagner collection of Armin Trösch - Honorary President of the Swiss Wagner Society - is now at home in Saxony. It was handed over on Friday in the presence of Wagner's great-granddaughter Dagny Beidler, as announced by the Pirna Culture and Tourism Society. The items are to be shown in an exhibition in the Lohengrinhaus from April 15 to May 15, 2026.

Collection includes more than 500 artifacts and books

According to the information, Trösch's collection includes more than 500 artifacts and books by and about Richard Wagner, including five original handwritten letters by Wagner, the first printing of the piano reduction of the opera "Rienzi" and numerous first editions. One special object mentioned was a suitcase that Richard Wagner presumably took with him on his flight from Dresden to exile in Zurich after the failed revolution in 1849.

"I am delighted that my collection has been donated to the Richard Wagner Sites Graupa. Richard Wagner's suitcase from Zurich is now back in Saxony, so to speak," Trösch was quoted as saying in a letter of greeting.

Wagner composed parts of his opera "Lohengrin"

The Richard Wagner Sites Graupa are considered to be the world's oldest museum-used residence of the composer. In 1846, he spent his summer vacation at the Schäfer estate, now the Lohengrin House, and created the musical sketches for his opera "Lohengrin". Museum visitors can gain an insight into how people lived almost 180 years ago. There has been a permanent exhibition on Wagner in the neighboring Graupa hunting lodge since 2013.