Richard Wagner used several methods to change traditional aspects of the opera. He felt that the opera house was a temple and wanted the audiences to be overwhelmed by the music and drama of his works. He wrote librettos based on legends and myths that included heroes, Gods and demigods. Wagner wanted his works to be called music dramas. He had continuous musical flow that he referred to as “unending melody.” He had no pauses in between arias because he felt that applause would interrupt his dramas. His vocal line was inspired by the rhythm and pitch of the text. Wagner changed the opera by moving the focus from voice to orchestra. In his vocal parts he used brief and recurrent musical ideas called leitmotifs. The leitmotif is a short musical