Richard Wagner was a German composer, theatre director, and conductor who is best known for his operas. He is widely considered to be one of the most influential composers of the 19th century. His most famous opera, Parsifal, was first performed in 1882. It is based on the medieval epic poem Parzival by Wolfram von Eschenbach and tells the story of a young knight's quest for the Holy Grail. Wagner wrote the music and libretto for Parsifal, making it one of his most ambitious works.