Wagner Society Blogs

Posted December 17, 2012

A new short documentary from Donald Collup

Donald Collup has presented his documentary on Astrid Varnay and the film Three Bayreuth Divas for the Wagner Society of Northern California. He has created a new short work which is available on YouTube at the following link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ry25CL1WAPw&feature=youtu.be

Posted December 12, 2012

Updated scheule now available!

WSNC today received updated information on the fabulous series of lectures, concerts, programs and keynote addresses in store at Wagner Worldwide Conference at the University of South Carolina in Columbia, South Carolina.

Posted December 11, 2012

Glyndebourne's 2007 production of Wagner's Tristan und Isolde will be available to watch on demand on the Guardian from 26 December to 6 January 2013.   Go to guardian.co.uk/music and look under Classical.

A Boxing Day treat indeed!

Posted December 11, 2012

The defense rests!

La Scala General Manager Stephane Lissner defended his choice of opening the 2012-2013 season with Lohengrin. He chose Lohengrin for opening night primarily because Daniel Barenboim, one of the world's finest Wagner conductors, was available to conduct. Further, Lohengrin was chosen because Wagner's Bicentenario occurs in May 2013, before the Bicentenario of Verdi which is in October 2013.

posted December 10, 2012

So goes the shampoo commercial.

But in the world of opera, these days looks and physique seem to rule.

In a recent inteview from French Television, Kaufmann discusses Lohengrin and what it takes to be in the limelight. Electronic media and immediate access to opera on-line have changed the game.

Kaufmann goes on to discuss controversial productions and the importance of acting.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sqbvbGYPa14

Thank you to Joan Lam for pointing this one out!

posted December 10, 2012

There was no lack of drama in Milan for opening night. Italians were irate due to La Scala's daring move to open the season with Lohengrin, the very season which marks the 200th Jubilee year of Giuseppe Verdi (and also that of Richard Wagner). But with Daniel Barenboim conducting and mega star Jonas Kaufmann singing one of his signature roles, those who had a ticket were elated.

Posted December 10, 2012

May 30 to June 1 American Liszt Society Festival in San Francisco

The Wagner Society of Northern California is delighted to be a partner with the American Liszt Society for an extraordinary musical event in 2013.

Location

Posted December 10, 2012

A new exhibition in Berlin takes a look at Wagner from the perspective of more than 50 contemporary artists. Wagner 2013. Kunstlerpositionen opens today (December 7, 2012) at Akademie der Künste and runs to 17 February 2013. The installation and associated lecture series includes composers, writers, filmmakers, directors and stage designers, famous and not so famous.

Here is a link to the website:

http://www.adk.de/de/projekte/2012/Wagner/Wagner_engl_Zusammenfasung.htm

Location

Posted December 5, 2012

Will they be done in time for the Jubilee?

Nordbayerischer Kurier reports repairs to the Festspielhaus are soon to begin.  The renovation of the facade of the building will cost 6 million Euro. The scaffolding and protective screening are designed to protect pedestrians from falling debris from the crumbling facade. The governing board has not come to a decision regarding the renovation and meet this week.

A thought: Chunks of the facade might make nifty souvenirs.

Posted December 5, 2012

WSNC Member Stefan Lazar forwarded the following links to video of the upcoming Flying Dutchman production which will be presented in Fall 2013