Final answer:
Richard Wagner's operatic style is characterized by the use of leitmotifs and the integration of music with drama. He also innovated the design of the orchestra pit to render the orchestra invisible to the audience, allowing for seamless blend of music and theatrical performance.
Step-by-step explanation:
The two most important elements of Richard Wagner's operatic style were his use of leitmotifs and the full integration of music with dramatic action, creating what he called the 'Gesamtkunstwerk' or 'total work of art.' The leitmotifs are recurring musical themes that are associated with particular characters, themes, or emotions, which aid in the storytelling by musically illustrating the drama without the need for explicit narrative direction. This technique enhances the emotional impact and provides a complex layering of the operatic themes.
Another distinctive feature of Wagner's style was the design of the orchestra pit, which he revolutionized to enhance the spectacle of the opera. He had it built in such a way as to make the orchestra virtually invisible to the audience, allowing the music to seem as if it were emanating from the theatrical performance itself, thus creating a more immersive and magical experience for the spectator.