I think Wagner's music, like everyone else's, reflects his character. Ornate, overwrought, complexified beyond reason, pompus, with a nice overlay of harmony on the top to keep you guessing. I liked it much better when Warner brothers adapted it with Elmer and Bugs doing the main voices.

Anyone who produces music has done good stuff and bad stuff. My secret opinion is that the best stuff is the result of his actual character, regardless of the transient state of his chemistry. The drugs did not put that song into that singer or writer. They may have prevented a better song coming out at the time, I guess. But my sense is the highest beauty an artist suceeds at creating is the best reflection of his deepest character. FWIW.

A