A huge panorama of Wagner's life and work, from before the 1848 Revolution, through his exile in Switzerland, his rescue by the besotted King Ludwig II of Bavaria to the final triumph at Bayreuth.

• Richard Burton
• Marthe Keller
• Miguel Herz-Kestranek
• Laurence Olivier
• Ralph Richardson
• Vanessa Redgrave
• John Gielgud
• László Gálffi