Final answer:
Richard Wagner is the founder of early 19th century German opera known for his influence on Romantic opera with dark themes and supernatural elements. He innovated with the orchestra pit to separate the magic of the performance from the musicians, enhancing the operatic experience.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Founder of Early 19th Century German Opera
The composer in question, known for his contributions to early 19th century German opera with folk-like melodies and dark, supernatural Romantic themes, is Richard Wagner. Wagner's operas are renowned for their complex textures, rich harmonies, and orchestration, as well as the elaborate use of leitmotifs—musical phrases associated with individual characters, places, ideas, or plot elements. His works, such as 'The Ring of the Nibelung' and 'Tristan und Isolde,' delve into themes of love, death, and the supernatural, reflecting the Romantic era's fascination with the human psyche and the unknown.
Wagner's influence on opera was profound, and his innovations extend beyond composition to the very nature of opera performances. He played a significant role in the development of the orchestra pit, a design concept which enhanced the audience's immersive experience by hiding the orchestra from view and allowing the music to seamlessly support the drama on stage.
During the Romantic era, other composers like Brahms, Tchaikovsky, and Beethoven also produced significant works that were widely recognized. However, unlike his contemporaries, who often sought to evolve from Classical styles, Wagner broke new ground by pushing the boundaries of the art form, creating operas that were at the forefront of avant-garde music for the time.