Posted December 26, 2012

40 years after Luchino Visconti released his glitzy film on "Mad" King Ludwig, a new film about King Ludwig II of Bavaria will hit the German Kinos December 26, 2012. Ludwig II was created at a reported expense of 16 million Euro by screenwriter/director pair Peter Sehr and Marie Noelle. Sehr and Noelle delved deep into the family history of Ludwig and claim to bring a new perspective to their film.

Posted December 26, 2012

The Death of Maria Malibran  (1971 - Werner Schroeter)

While it's not about Wagner, this is quite possibly a fascinating German film with an operatic theme. The famed opera star Maria Malibran was the sister of the equally famous singer, poet, composer Pauline Viardot. Malibran and Viardot were daughters of the early 19th Century's most famous vocal teachers of the Bel Canto style: Manuel Garcia.

Location

Posted December 26, 2012

Merolini Rising Star

The Metropolitan Opera has announced that tenor Bryan Hymel will replace Marcello Giordani in the epic, heroic role of Aeneas in their production of Hector Berlioz monumental opera, Les Troyens. Until recently no one seemed to have heard of Bryan Hymel. 

Posted December 17, 2012

For those who thought they had everything . . . .

Volksbank Pirna in the Sächsischen Schweiz region has released a specially comissioned Richard Wagner Räuschermann just in time for the 2013 Wagner Jubilee year.

For those who aren't familiar with this bit of German kitsch, you pull off Wagner's head, insert and ignite some incense, and then replace the head. Smoke will waft out of Wagner's mouth as he conducts Lohengrin.

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.