Wagner was inspired to write this opera following a stormy sea journey he made from Rigato Longon in 1839. His original idea for the opera was sold to the Paris Opera, only to be given to another composer, so the frustrated Wagner returned to Dresden with the goal of writing his own version of the piece. It premiered in 1843 with the composer himself conducting. Wagner wrote to friend Franz Liszt about the importance of matching the set design and singers' gestures with the music and poetry of the work. This is an early glimpse into his concept for "Gesamkunstwerk," or a total work of art, that would be an influential style for decades to come, and his use of leitmotif is apparent in the score.