MAGDEBURG, RIGA, PARIS, 1834-1842. The trade he had chosen was that of operatic conductor. It was not until eight years later that he made a serious début as an operatic composer. _The Forbidden Love (Das Liebesverbot)_ is entirely unknown to me; but it may be doubted whether Wagner, with his head full of confused ideas, and as yet no definite and distinctive plan or method, could at this time produce a great work of art. He had to pass through his _Rienzi_ period first. But two points may be remarked. Already he had determined to make his own librettos; and his early association with the theatre enabled him to judge much better than any of the libretto-makers of that or any other time as to what would prove effective on the stage. In the second place, in the music of _The Fairies_, we see to what an extent he had assimilated Weber; the themes are Weberesque in outline, and the whole colour--colour of harmony and orchestration--is also Weberesque. He went on planning and writing operas, but his daily bread-earning work was rehearsing his company and conducting. The experience must have been invaluable to him; but there is nothing especially remarkable to record of the period. He himself left an account of the failure of _The Forbidden Love_, which was produced in 1836. The company went to pieces immediately after, and he was glad to find a position at Königsberg. This, however, came to nothing, or next to nothing, owing to the director's failure, and again Wagner had to remove, this time to Riga.