Station 22 - Old St. Nicholas School

Richard Wagner was enrolled at the Nikolaischule from 1828 until 1830 - one of the few surviving, authentic Wagner locations in Leipzig. Wagner was certainly no model pupil, as he relates in his autobiography:
"The decline of my studies and my consummate deviation from the path of a well-regulated education began on the first day of my schooling; the arrogance of the school pedantry may well be at fault."
At that time, the Thomassschule (St. Thomas School) presented no real alternative to Wagner:
"...the Nikolaischule enjoyed at that time a significantly better reputation than its sister; I simply had to get accepted there."
In accordance with his "fantastical tendencies", however, he did not devote himself to his studies, preferring to concentrate on the continued progress of his lyric drama Leubald and Adelaide. Later confessing the priorities of his youth, Wagner wrote:
"The neglect of my schoolwork reached such a degree that it inevitably led to our parting company."

Presumably more content in their studies at the Nikolaischule were Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz, Christian Thomasius and Johann Gottfried Seume.

The Nikolaischule also employed cantors who, officially, were of equal rank to the Thomaskantoren (Cantors of St. Thomas). Due to the strong scientific bias of the Nikolaischule's curriculum, however, they could not realistically compete with their colleagues at St. Thomas's, remaining largely without influence in the musical life of the city. The building of the Nikolaischule housed the school from its founding in 1512, serving this purpose until 1872. After long years of gradual deterioration, the derelict building was eventually restored from 1991 to 1994.

Alte Nikolaischule, Nikolaikirchhof 2, 04109 Leipzig,Tel. 0341/ 2118518
The Exhibition of Kulturstiftung Leipzig „The young Richard Wagner 1813 till 1834“ ist open: TUE–THU 10 a.m. till 3 p.m., SAT, SUN 12 a.m. – 5 p.m..
Photograph: Werner Schneider

Internet:
Richard-Wagner-Verband Leipzig e.V.
Kulturstiftung Leipzig
Alte Nikolaischule
Richard Wagner