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This passage is from the finale of Das Rheingold and is written to be played on contra-bass trombone (although it should be played on a bass trombone for auditions). The tempo marking means, "with medium motion" and so we should play it that way, with a full, massive and noble sound. Breathing is very difficult as it is hard to make Wagner's marked phrases at a fortissimo dynamic. In have indicated my suggestions for breaths.
Some players add in the two notes in parentheses in measure 8 as they are implied in the music but not actually written in the part. Playing them can be very impressive at an audition and invariable someone WILL play them. However they are not expected, and I, for one, am grateful to actually have a rest to take a good breath. Take care to have good pitch on the last two notes - it is easy to make the note in measure 14 too sharp after so much playing in the valve and pedal register.
My thanks to Uwe Springmann of Munich for some German translation assistance.
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