Publisher Desc.  'Rienzi, der Letzte der Tribunen' (WWV 49) (Rienzi, the Last of the Tribunes) is an early opera by Richard Wagner in five acts, with the libretto written by the composer after Bulwer-Lytton's novel of the same name (1835). The opera is set in Rome and is based on the life of Cola di Rienzi (1313-1354), a medieval Italian populist figure who succeeds in outwitting and then defeating the nobles and their followers and in raising the power of the people. Despite Wagner's reservations, 'Rienzi' remained one of his most successful operas until the early 20th century. Nowadays, the complete opera is not performed quite often but it's overture is still scheduled in many concert programs.