Richard Burton

as Richard Wagner

Marthe Keller

as Mathilde Wesendonck

Miguel Herz-Kestranek

as Hans von Bülow

Laurence Olivier

as Pfeuffer

Ralph Richardson

as Pfordten

Vanessa Redgrave

as Cosima von Bulow

John Gielgud

as Pfistermeister

László Gálffi

as King Ludwig II of Bavaria