Wagner Society of New York

Five-Part Course: Wagner's Tristan und Isolde
2026-02-24 18:00 - 19:30, 2026-03-10 18:00 - 19:30 (America/New_York) | The Juilliard School, 60 Lincoln Center Plaza, New York, NY, 10023, United States
In the spring of 2026, the Metropolitan Opera will unveil a new production of Wagner’s Tristan und Isolde; we offer this course, taught by John J. H. Muller IV, Faculty Emeritus, The Juilliard School, to enhance our members’ understanding and appreciation of the work.
Since its premiere in 1865, Tristan has exerted an overwhelming impact on audiences. After hearing Tristan for the first time, Bruno Walter wrote, “Wagner was my God, and I wanted to become his prophet.” To understand Wagner’s world of longing, night, and death, we explore Tristan in a variety of ways, starting with the sources, the creation of the libretto, and the genesis of the work. The primary focus of the course is on Wagner’s use of erotically-charged chromatic harmonies, an orchestral web of leitmotifs, and subtle orchestration to embody the inner, psychological world of his characters and the overall musical drama. The reception of this challenging work is studied, along with its extraordinary influence on later composers. We also consider approaches to staging Tristan, a work in which almost nothing happens on the stage. Classes are illustrated with a variety of recordings and videos demonstrating different interpretive approaches to the work by renowned artists.
This course is offered in collaboration with Juilliard Extension.
Five sessions: Tuesdays 6:00 – 7:30pm, February 3 – March 10, (no session March 3); in-person only
About the instructor: John J. H. Muller IV is professor emeritus in the Music Department at The Juilliard School and has given independent courses on Wagner and other composers. He presented the Society’s Bayreuth lecture series from 2010 to 2019.

Pricing: Regularly $280, 50% discount for WSNY members ($140) – see email for discount code
Registration Online only via Juilliard Extension.

Pre-Performance Meet-Up: Liszt Transcriptions with Mao Fujita
2026-03-04 19:15 - 20:00 (America/New_York) | Carnegie Hall, 57th Street and Seventh Avenue, New York, NY, 10019, United States
Virtuoso pianist Mao Fujita performs Wagner’s “In das Album der Fürstin Metternich,” WWV 94, Liszt’s transcription Isoldes Liebestod from Tristan und Isolde, as well as other works by Beethoven, Berg, Mendelssohn, and Brahms – at Stern Auditorium in Carnegie Hall on Wednesday, March 4.
Come say Hi to fellow WSNY members from near and far. It’s a great chance to mingle with fellow opera enthusiasts, share your thoughts on the performance, and connect with like-minded people who appreciate great music and conversation. Whether you’re a long-time member or new to the Society, we’d love to see you there and hear your insights.
You’ll find us in the Rose Museum outside the Rohatyn Room on the first tier – and can recognize our loyal members by their Wagner silhouette lapel pins. The house opens 45 minutes before the performance – come say Hi before you take your seat.

Intermission Meet-Up: Tristan und Isolde
2026-03-09 18:30 - 23:30, 2026-03-13 18:30 - 23:30, 2026-03-17 18:30 - 23:30, 2026-03-21 12:00 - 17:00, 2026-03-25 18:30 - 23:30, 2026-03-29 14:00 - 19:30, 2026-04-02 18:30 - 23:30 (America/New_York) | The Metropolitan Opera, 30 Lincoln Center Plz., New York, NY, 10023, United States
Intermission Meet-Up: for all performances of the Metropolitan Opera’s of Tristan und Isolde with Lise Davidsen’s role debut and a new production by Yuval Sharon. come say Hi to fellow WSNY members from near and far. It’s a great chance to mingle with fellow opera enthusiasts, share your thoughts on the performance so far, and connect with like-minded people who appreciate great music and conversation. Whether you’re a long-time member or new to the Society, we’d love to see you there and hear your insights.
You’ll find us on the Dress Circle level (center) during both intermissions – and can recognize our loyal members by their Wagner silhouette lapel pins.

Young Wagnerian Salon Social
2026-03-12 19:00 - 23:00 (America/New_York) | The Residence of Sanford Schwartz, New York, NY, United States
An evening social for young Wagnerians affiliated with the WSNY to come together and share insights into Wagner. The event will serve to foster social connection, but also as a space for open performance and presentation, where members can take advantage of the in-house piano, bring their own instrument, or share their current research/work into the Wagner. Hosted by Sanford Schwartz (Stipendiat ’25) and Caroline Couch (Stipendiat ’24); refreshments will be served.

Seminar: Tristan und Isolde
2026-03-14 12:00 - 16:15 (America/New_York) | Scandinavia House, 58 Park Ave., New York, NY, 10016, United States
Join us for our annual tradition: a half-day deep-dive exploration into one of Wagner’s towering masterpieces, presented in conjunction with the Metropolitan Opera’s current season. This year we turn our attention to Tristan und Isolde (on stage 9 March – 2 April, 2026) in a new production by Yuval Sharon.
Our seminar offers the perfect opportunity to deepen your relationship with the work, whether you’re a seasoned Wagnerian or discovering Tristan for the first time. Expect illuminating lectures from leading scholars and musicologists, insights into the opera’s historical, philosophical, and musical dimensions, and a dynamic roundtable with members of the cast and creative team. These gatherings are more than just educational—they’re a chance to connect with fellow opera lovers in a spirit of shared curiosity and discovery. Come ready to engage, reflect, and be transformed by one of the most profound love stories ever set to music.
Program:
Doors open 11:15 a.m.; Programs 12:00 noon – 4:15 p.m. with breaks. Complimentary refreshments before the program and during breaks.
12:00 p.m. Welcome by Chairman John Ryan and Moderator F. Peter Phillips
12:15 – 1:15 p.m. Prof. Karol Berger, “Tristan und Isolde: Music Drama as Opera”
1:15 – 1:30 p.m. Refreshment Break
1:30 – 2:30 p.m. Met Cast Roundtable
Ekaterina Gubanova, Ryan Speedo Green, Tomasz Konieczny, Michael Spyres
2:30 – 2:45 p.m. Refreshment Break
2:45 – 3:30 p.m. Prof. Wayne Oquin, “Wagner’s Tristan und Isolde: Harmony as the Embodiment of Longing”
3:30 – 4:15 p.m. Will Crutchfield, “150 Years of Singing Tristan”

Plan ahead & Enhance your Experience:
Check out director Yuval Sharon‘s book A New Philosophy of Opera – available in our shop
Find us at an intermission meet-up for whichever performance you’re attending
Deepen your understanding with this five-part course in collaboration with Juilliard Extension, taught by John J. H. Muller IV, Faculty Emeritus, The Juilliard School.
Continue the conversation: join us for a gathering after the seminar at Reichenbach Hall for drinks and dinner.
Ticketing:
WSNY Members: $60, VIP Seating $200, Non-WSNY Member $85, WSNY Student Members: Free
Livestream $30 – viewable live, or up to 36 hours after the event.

Gathering at Reichenbach Hall: Post-Seminar Toasts
2026-03-14 16:30 - 18:00 (America/New_York) | Reichenbach Hall, 5 West 37th Street, New York, NY, 10018, United States
Please join us after our Tristan und Isolde Seminar for an informal gathering at Reichenbach Hall, where the conversation continues over cold beers, traditional Bavarian food, and good company! Come unwind with fellow opera lovers, raise a glass, share your thoughts, and enjoy the lively beer-hall atmosphere just a short stroll from Scandinavia House. We warmly welcome our own members, members from Wagner Societies around the world, and all seminar attendees. We have reserved a space just inside the entrance of the restaurant, to the right of the doors when you enter. Guests are responsible for their own food and drink purchases.

Yuval Sharon in Conversation with Cori Ellison
2026-03-31 18:30 - 20:00 (America/New_York) | Scandinavia House, 58 Park Ave., New York, NY, 10016, United States
What happens when opera’s most fearless rule-breaker takes on one of its most monumental works? In this wide-ranging conversation, Yuval Sharon joins dramaturg Cori Ellison to unpack his bold new staging of Tristan und Isolde at the Metropolitan Opera. Known as opera’s “disrupter-in-residence,” Sharon brings his signature curiosity to the work, opening up fresh ways of listening, seeing, and experiencing its emotional and philosophical intensity.
We’ll also dive into his book, A New Philosophy of Opera, a manifesto-meets-invitation that reimagines opera as something alive, flexible, and radically inclusive. From parking-lot performances to rethinking canonical structures, Sharon shares why he believes opera isn’t dying: it’s constantly being reborn.
The event will be followed by a social hour with refreshments.
Livestream: the event will be livestreamed (viewable up to 36 hours after the start of the event). WSNY Members receive livestream link automatically by e-mail; no need to pre-register.

Pre-Performance Meet-Up: Metamorphosen & La Voix Humaine
2026-04-23 18:45 - 19:30 (America/New_York) | David Geffen Hall, 10 Lincoln Center Plaza, New York, NY, 10023, United States
Thursday, April 23 performance of Richard Strauss’s Metamorphosen and Poulenc’s La Voix Humaine, with Barbara Hannigan on the podium before the NY Philharmonic. Come say Hi to fellow WSNY members from near and far. It’s a great chance to mingle with fellow opera enthusiasts, share your thoughts on the performance, and connect with like-minded people who appreciate great music and conversation. Whether you’re a long-time member or new to the Society, we’d love to see you there and hear your insights.
You’ll find us on the Orchestra level by the merchandise kiosk – and can recognize our loyal members by their Wagner silhouette lapel pins. The house opens 45 minutes before the performance – come say Hi before you take your seat.

Wagner’s Artistic Influences: with Joshua Borths
2026-04-30 18:30 - 20:00 (America/New_York) | National Opera Center, 330 Seventh Avenue, 7th Floor, New York, NY, 10001, United States
Richard Wagner provocatively changed the course of music, drama, and art throughout the twentieth century, and his work continues to influence artists in the present. Since Wagner’s death in 1883, much of the discourse surrounding him has focused on his artistic legacy. However, Wagner was a man of the nineteenth century, firmly rooted to a specific time and place. Tracking the ebb and flow of an artist’s influences and innovations brings great aesthetic enjoyment but focus on Wagner’s influences has largely been absent from the conversation. Using Wagner’s enigmatic autobiography, Mein Leben, as a starting point, Joshua Borths will explore the artistic influences on Wagner, emphasizing his art as a conversation between the old and new and discovering the foundations of his greatest music dramas.

About the Speaker: Joshua Borths (he/him) is a nationally recognized stage director, writer, and dramaturg. Known for his creative and insightful productions, Borths’s work has been lauded as “beautiful, even poetic.” (Opera Today) Recently, Borths directed The Flying Dutchman for Des Moines Metro Opera (DMMO), and he returns in 2026 to stage a new production of Puccini’s Tosca. Other upcoming projects include productions for Sacramento Philharmonic & Opera, Chautauqua Opera, Calgary Opera, Arizona Opera, and Madison Opera. Recent favorites include Three Decembers (Pensacola Opera), Hansel & Gretel (Opera Montana), Il barbiere di Sivliglia (Arizona Opera). In addition to his directing work, Borths is also the Director of Opera Theatre at James Madison University and Company Dramaturg at DMMO. As a writer, Borths has written numerous children’s operas that have been produced across the country and seen by hundreds of thousands of students (OperaClassroom.com). He has also given over 500 lectures on opera history & literature, and he has been a guest lecturer for the Triangle Wagner Society, Wagner Society Manchester, Wagner Society of Scotland, among others. Borths is proud to be represented by UIA Talent.

The event will be followed by a social hour with refreshments.
Livestream: the event will be livestreamed (viewable up to 36 hours after the start of the event). WSNY Members receive livestream link automatically by e-mail; no need to pre-register.

Singers Competition Finals 2026
2026-05-22 14:00 - 16:00 (America/New_York) | Merkin Hall, 129 W 67th St., New York, NY, 10023, United States
Hear the future of Wagnerian singing: Our annual Singers Competition Finals will take place on Friday, May 22. Our members are invited to attend the final auditions, where they can be introduced to some of the most promising young Wagner voices from around the world. The Wagner Society of New York is proud to have supported young artists through grants and awards for over 30 years. Awards are funded by generous Society members who established the Robert Lauch Memorial Endowed Fund, the Ursula Springer Endowed Fund, as well as The Fund for Singers, and by those who continue to honor their legacy with their contributions. This year, Finalists will be presenting excerpts from Wagner and other works of similar dramatic vocal character. Update: Our 2026 special guest judge will be Craig Rutenberg, alongside Cori Ellison, Tyson Deaton, Deborah Surdi, Ken Benson, and Roger Malouf.
Learn more about the Singers Awards and competition requirements online here.

Finalists: To be announced. Deliberations and Announcement of Winners will immediately follow.

Venue & accessibility: Merkin Hall, Kaufman Music Center, 129 W 67th Street (betw. Broadway and Amsterdam), New York, NY 10023. The auditorium and restrooms are completely accessible.

Admission: Attendance is open exclusively to WSNY Members. There is no charge for admission but members are asked to consider making a generous donation to the Fund for Singers when registering for this event.

Pre-Bayreuth Happy Hour Meet-Up
2026-06-01 18:00 - 20:00 (America/New_York) | Reichenbach Hall, 5 West 37th Street, New York, NY, 10018, United States
Bayreuth Festival Happy Hour – A Pre-Festival Meet-Up in NYC
Are you going to the Bayreuth Festival this summer and want to meet other attendees? Have questions about your first visit to the Green Hill? Want to share some knowledge and memories about a previous visit? Just like talking about Wagner? Join us for a casual happy hour at Reichenbach Hall, spacious and welcoming Bavarian-style beer hall in Midtown Manhattan.
Whether you’ve attended for years or are just beginning your journey into the world of Wagner, this is a wonderful opportunity to meet others who share your passion. Bring a friend, bring your questions, and raise a glass of Hefeweizen with us as we count down the days to curtain-up in Bayreuth!
Find us: We’ll be at the high-top tables just inside to the right as you enter Reichenbach Hall.
Guests are kindly responsible for their own food and drink tabs.

Pre-Performance Meet-Up: Bruckner's 8th
2026-06-04 18:45 - 19:30 (America/New_York) | David Geffen Hall, 10 Lincoln Center Plaza, New York, NY, 10023, United States
Thursday, June 4 performance of Bruckner’s 8th Symphony with the NY Philharmonic and Semyon Bychkov on the podium. Come say Hi to fellow WSNY members from near and far. It’s a great chance to mingle with fellow opera enthusiasts, share your thoughts on the performance, and connect with like-minded people who appreciate great music and conversation. Whether you’re a long-time member or new to the Society, we’d love to see you there and hear your insights.
You’ll find us on the Orchestra level by the merchandise kiosk – and can recognize our loyal members by their Wagner silhouette lapel pins. The house opens 45 minutes before the performance – come say Hi before you take your seat.

Film: Mahler in New York
2026-06-16 19:00 - 21:30 (America/New_York) | Dolby Screening Room, 1350 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY, 10019, United States
A screening of new film Mahler in New York with special introduction and Q&A by director Hilan Warshaw.
A giant of Europe finds himself on the streets of Manhattan. Thousands of miles from the land where he experienced his triumphs and torments, he unexpectedly discovers a new world, all the while living under the shadow of impending death.
As both composer and conductor, Gustav Mahler was one of the most pivotal figures of late-nineteenth-century European music. But the final years of his life were largely spent in New York City. Here, among the bustle of Manhattan’s Upper West Side, he worked on his last symphonies, transformed New York’s musical life through his leadership of both the New York Philharmonic and the Metropolitan Opera, and confronted the greatest emotional crisis of his life.
Weaving together performances, location footage, re-enactments and interviews with musical luminaries (including Joseph Horowitz, Gianandrea Noseda, Nathalie Stutzmann, and Franz-Welser Möst), Hilan Warshaw’s film Mahler in New York recreates the little-known Manhattan sojourn of this legendary European Jewish composer/conductor. Fleeing Viennese anti-Semitism and personal tragedy, Mahler revelled in the pluralism of New York, a place he referred to as a “spiritual home”; but there were further upheavals in store. After his death, in a world reeling from world wars, American composer/conductor Leonard Bernstein – in many ways Mahler’s spiritual heir- and others resurrected and popularized Mahler for a new world finally ready to understand him.
A deep dive into some of the greatest music ever created and a heartbreaking love story about two brilliant and incompatible spouses, Gustav and Alma Mahler, this film also reconsiders Mahler’s legacy to explore his message for today’s troubled world.
Trailer:

Co-Presenters: We are happy to offer this screening in collaboration with The Gustav Mahler Society of New York.

Schedule: Doors at 6:30 p.m., seating at 6:45 p.m., film from 7:00-8:50 p.m. followed by a social hour with refreshments.

Venue: Dolby88 Screening room is located inside the office building at 1350 Sixth Avenue. Entrance is on 55th street at 6th Avenue, next door to Pret à Manger. Once through building security turnstiles, the movie theater-style-seating venue is on the lobby level, to your left. Restrooms are accessible via a small flight of stairs. Barrier-free restrooms are located on another floor and may be accessed with the assistance of an attendant.

Rienzi: A Critical Introduction
2026-07-21 18:00 - 19:00 (America/New_York) | https://wagnersocietyny.org/event/rienzi-a-critical-introduction/
Two Wagner experts will engage in a conversation about his early success, Rienzi, der letzte der Tribunen. Topics will include the plot, the source material, reflections on the influences of then-current opera composition, and indications of the innovations to come in Wagner’s next work, Der fliegende Holländer.
John Deathridge’s many publications about Wagner include Wagner’s ‘Rienzi’: a Reappraisal based on a Study of the Sketches and Drafts (Oxford 1977), still the only academic monograph devoted exclusively to the opera. John lives in Cambridge England where he was a Fellow of King’s College and Lecturer (then Reader) at the University from 1983 to 1996, after which he was appointed to the King Edward VII Chair of Music at King’s College London. Now Emeritus after retiring in 2013, he continues to pursue his interest in performance and research. His English translation of Der Ring des Nibelungen was published by Random House as a Penguin Classic in 2018 and his current work includes a fresh look at Beethoven and the Enlightenment. Connections between Beethoven and Rienzi – and the Bayreuth Festival as a whole – will inform part of the discussion.
John J. H. Muller IV is a faculty emeritus of The Juilliard School, where for many years he taught a wide variety of courses in the music history department. From 2010 to 2019, he presented lectures for the Wagner Society of New York at the Bayreuth Festival and for other Wagner Societies in the United States. Prof. Muller has also been a noted speaker for the Metropolitan Opera Guild and the American Psychoanalytic Association. His essay on Parsifal appeared in the book, Wagner Outside the Ring, and a chapter on Tristan und Isolde was included in Opera on the Couch, published in 2022.
Livestream: the event will be livestreamed via Zoom only; no replay available.
WSNY Members receive livestream link automatically by e-mail; no need to purchase.

Bayreuth Post-Rheingold Dinner (Ring I)
2026-07-27 20:45 - 22:30 (Europe/Berlin) | Bürgerreuth Restaurant, an der Bürgerreuth 20, Bayreuth, 95445, Germany
Post-Rheingold Dinner (Ring Cycle I) at Bürgerreuth Restaurant
Saturday, 27 July, approx. 8:45 p.m.
an der Bürgerreuth 20, 95445 Bayreuth – link to map
Interested in an al fresco Italian dinner with other English-speaking Festival attendees after Das Rheingold? We’ve reserved the outdoor space at Bürgerreuth, a 5 minute walk from the Festspielhaus, and will arrange for appetizers to be ready on our arrival. Enjoy a lively conversation with other devoted Wagner fans, meet old friends and make new connections. Join us for a drink, and order à la carte as you like – pay your own way individually at the restaurant. In case of cold or inclement weather, we will have a space inside the restaurant.
This event is reserved for a limited number of attendees. RSVP by Friday, 24 July at 12:00 noon CEST. If the event is full, submit your name and e-mail address in the form below to be added to the waitlist and be notified by e-mail of any openings.
Please select your appetizer in advance.
(prices current at time of posting)
Appetizers:
Prosciutto di San Daniele, 19,80 €
Air-dried ham from San Daniele in Friuli with Cantaloupe
Filetto al Carpaccio, 19,80 €
Thin slices of raw beef with lemon, olive-oil and freshly shaved slices of parmesan
Vitello Tonnato, 15,80 €
Thin slices of roasted veal with tuna sauce
Mozzarella di Bufala alla Caprese, 19,80 €
Original Buffalo mozzarella from campania prepared with olive oil, tomatoes, basil and oregano

Bayreuth Post-Rheingold Dinner (Ring II)
2026-08-04 20:45 - 22:30 (Europe/Berlin) | Bürgerreuth Restaurant, an der Bürgerreuth 20, Bayreuth, 95445, Germany
Post-Rheingold Dinner (Ring Cycle II) at Bürgerreuth Restaurant
Tuesday, August 4, approx. 8:45 p.m.
an der Bürgerreuth 20, 95445 Bayreuth – link to map
Interested in an al fresco Italian dinner with other English-speaking Festival attendees after Das Rheingold? We’ve reserved the outdoor space at Bürgerreuth, a 5 minute walk from the Festspielhaus, and will arrange for appetizers to be ready on our arrival. Enjoy a lively conversation with other devoted Wagner fans, meet old friends and make new connections. Join us for a drink, and order à la carte as you like – pay your own way individually at the restaurant. In case of cold or inclement weather, we will have a space inside the restaurant.
This event is reserved for a limited number of attendees. RSVP by Saturday, 1 August at 12:00 noon CEST. If the event is full, submit your name and e-mail address in the form below to be added to the waitlist and be notified by e-mail of any openings.
Please select your appetizer in advance.
(prices current at time of posting)
Appetizers:
Prosciutto di San Daniele, 19,80 €
Air-dried ham from San Daniele in Friuli with Cantaloupe
Filetto al Carpaccio, 19,80 €
Thin slices of raw beef with lemon, olive-oil and freshly shaved slices of parmesan
Vitello Tonnato, 15,80 €
Thin slices of roasted veal with tuna sauce
Mozzarella di Bufala alla Caprese, 19,80 €
Original Buffalo mozzarella from campania prepared with olive oil, tomatoes, basil and oregano

Neuschwanstein Tour for Wagner Enthusiasts
2026-08-08 08:30 - 19:30 (Europe/Berlin) | München Hauptbahnhof, Bayerstr. 10a, München, Bayern, 80335, Germany
“Neuschwanstein is Wagner in stone — Wagner is Neuschwanstein in tone.”
This special tour is led by Dr. Thomas Launius, whose background in mythology, storytelling, and opera gives him a unique perspective on Neuschwanstein as “Wagner in stone.” Dr. Launius has led over 250 tours to the castle in the past six years and has received more than 1,000 five-star reviews, becoming one of the most highly regarded Neuschwanstein guides working on the mountain today. Many society members will remember Dr. Launius from his lecture in Bayreuth last August on Wagner’s Parsifal, which was warmly received.
This tour is designed specifically for Wagner enthusiasts. It offers special insight into:

how Wagner’s medieval sources are depicted in the murals and symbolism of the castle
how Ludwig II shaped Neuschwanstein using Wagnerian dramatic principles
why the castle functions as a kind of architectural opera

Participants will come away with a deeper understanding of both Wagner and Ludwig II — even if they have visited the castle before.
Itinerary (All Day Experience)
Saturday, August 8, 2026
8:30 AM — Meet in Munich
We meet at München Hauptbahnhof and take a short S-Bahn ride to connect with our main train.
9:00 AM — Train to Füssen (First Class)
We travel in the comfort of the first-class compartment. During the ride, Dr. Launius shares stories, history, and background to prepare everyone for the castle experience.
11:42 AM — Arrive in Füssen
We take a private taxi from Füssen to the village of Hohenschwangau, where Neuschwanstein is located.
12:00 PM — Lunch in Hohenschwangau
A brief lunch break before ascending the mountain.
12:45 PM — Up the mountain / Mary’s Bridge
We ride the shuttle bus up the mountain to Marienbrücke (Mary’s Bridge) for the iconic panoramic view of the castle, then walk the final portion to the castle.
2:15 PM — Guided Tour Inside Neuschwanstein
We enter the castle for the official interior tour led by a State of Bavaria guide. (Dr. Launius will provide Wagner-focused context before and after the interior tour.) After the guided tour, we will have additional time to explore and take photos.
4:00 PM — Return to the village
We descend and enjoy time in Hohenschwangau.
4:45 PM — Taxi back to Füssen
Private taxi back to the train station.
5:20 PM — Return train to Munich (First Class)
Time to relax and reflect on the day.
7:30 PM — Arrive back in Munich
Return to München Hauptbahnhof.

What’s Included:
This is an intimate small-group experience, limited to six participants, and includes:

all train travel (first class)
private taxi transfers in Füssen/Hohenschwangau
all castle admission tickets
the full day guided experience with Dr. Launius

Participants only pay for:

meals and beverages
personal shopping

Guest Expectations:
Participants should be comfortable with:

walking approximately ½ mile over mostly level ground
brief uphill walking
stairs inside the castle

Cost and Reservation
$399 per person, limited to six participants; advance reservation is required.
Registration for this tour will close on March 15 2026 at 12:00 noon ET, after which remaining spaces cannot be guaranteed. Payment is non-refundable.
Additional registrants may be added on an as-available basis; please e-mail help@wagnersocietyny.org to inquire if there are still slots available.
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About Dr. Launius: To learn more about Dr. Launius and his Neuschwanstein and Wagnerian work: http://www.oaktree.pro/

Bayreuth Artist Talk: Georg Zeppenfeld
2026-08-11 10:30 - 11:30 (Europe/Berlin) | Arvena Kongress Hotel, Eduard-Bayerlin Str. 5a, Bayreuth, 95445, Germany
Georg Zeppenfeld has the bass solo in Beethoven’s Ninth this year as well as Gurnemanz in Parsifal; previous years he has performed Hans Sachs, Hunding, Daland, Marke, Heinrich der Vogler, Veit Pogner, and the Night Watchman. Join us in 2026 for the Bayreuth Artists Talks Series, an engaging opportunity to connect with the exceptional performers of the Bayreuth Festival. These intimate sessions offer audiences a rare glimpse behind the scenes as artists reflect on their careers, share insights into their roles and creative processes, and discuss the unique experience of performing at Bayreuth. With a relaxed and informal setting, these conversations provide a deeper understanding of the works the artists bring to life on stage, making each event a memorable encounter with the people behind the music.
Georg Zeppenfeld, a renowned bassist from Attendorn in Westphalia, embarked on his musical journey with a dual major in Music and German Studies. Concurrently, he honed his skills in concert and operatic singing at the prestigious music conservatories in Detmold and Cologne, culminating in comprehensive training under the guidance of Hans Sotin. His repertoire encompasses notable roles from both the Italian and German vocal traditions. Since 2010, he has been a regular guest at the Bayreuth Festival, where he compellingly embodies the most significant roles within his vocal range.
This in-person-only event will take place at the Arvena Kongress Hotel in Bayreuth, Germany.
Tickets are $15 in advance online, €15 cash or credit card at the door.
Get the Series: all six artists talks for $60 (a $30 savings). Pre-purchase is recommended to expedite entry and seating.

Bayreuth Artist Talk: Michael Volle
2026-08-12 10:30 - 11:30 (Europe/Berlin) | Arvena Kongress Hotel, Eduard-Bayerlin Str. 5a, Bayreuth, 95445, Germany
Michael Volle, singing Amfortas in Parsifal and Wotan/Wanderer in the Ring Cycle this season; in previous years he has performed Der Holländer, Hans Sachs, and Sixtus Beckmesser at the Bayreuth Fetsival. Join us in 2026 for this Artists Talks Series, an engaging opportunity to connect with the exceptional performers of the Bayreuth Festival. These intimate sessions offer audiences a rare glimpse behind the scenes as artists reflect on their careers, share insights into their roles and creative processes, and discuss the unique experience of performing at Bayreuth. With a relaxed and informal setting, these conversations provide a deeper understanding of the works the artists bring to life on stage, making each event a memorable encounter with the people behind the music.
Michael Volle‘s exceptional vocal talent and powerful stage presence have established the German baritone as one of the most sought-after singers of his generation. Inspired by his teachers Josef Metternich and Rudolf Piernay, he has conquered the stages of the world’s most prestigious opera houses as a heroic baritone, while never losing his passion for the more intimate concert and song repertoire.
After early engagements in Mannheim, Bonn, Düsseldorf, and Cologne, he became a member of the ensembles at the Zurich Opera House and the Bavarian State Opera in Munich, where the foundation was laid for an acclaimed international career. This career has since taken him as a guest artist to all major international opera stages, including the opera houses in Berlin, the State Operas of Hamburg, Dresden, Munich, and Vienna, the Festspielhaus Baden-Baden, the Opéra National de Paris, London’s Royal Opera House Covent Garden, the Teatro Real in Madrid, the Liceu in Barcelona, La Scala in Milan, and the Metropolitan Opera in New York, as well as to the Bregenz, Salzburg Festivals, and the Wagner Festival in Bayreuth.
Michael Volle has earned particular renown as an interpreter of Richard Wagner’s works. Among his most important roles are Wotan/Wanderer in Wagner’s Ring Cycle and Hans Sachs in Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg. In addition, the roles of Richard Strauss and the major baritone parts of the Italian repertoire, especially those by Giuseppe Verdi, form a central focus of his artistic work. In the 2024/25 season, he appeared in new productions of Rheingold, Walküre, and Siegfried at La Scala in Milan (directed by David McVicar), where the Ring has been completed in the 2025/26 season with two complete cycles. The Vienna State Opera also remains a regular fixture in his calendar; this season he appeared there in two Ring cycles. In November 2025, he returned to the Berlin State Opera Unter den Linden in the title role of Falstaff, having already appeared there as Wotan/Wanderer in September 2025, and he took on the role of Mandryka (Arabella) at the Zurich Opera House. The season concludes with the 150th anniversary of the Bayreuth Festival, where he will perform in two Ring cycles and take on the role of Amfortas in Parsifal.
This in-person-only event will take place at the Arvena Kongress Hotel in Bayreuth, Germany.
Tickets are $15 in advance online, €15 cash or credit card at the door.
Get the Series: all six artists talks for $60 (a $30 savings). Pre-purchase is recommended to expedite entry and seating.

Bayreuth Artist Talk: Christa Mayer
2026-08-13 10:30 - 11:30 (Europe/Berlin) | Arvena Kongress Hotel, Eduard-Bayerlin Str. 5a, Bayreuth, 95445, Germany
Christa Mayer performs Waltraute and Erda in the Ring Cycle this season, as well as the alto solo in Beethoven’s Ninth. Previous Bayreuth engagements have included Schwertleite, Fricka, Magdalene, Mary and Brangäne. Join us in 2026 for the Bayreuth Artists Talks Series, an engaging opportunity to connect with the exceptional performers of the Bayreuth Festival. These intimate sessions offer audiences a rare glimpse behind the scenes as artists reflect on their careers, share insights into their roles and creative processes, and discuss the unique experience of performing at Bayreuth. With a relaxed and informal setting, these conversations provide a deeper understanding of the works the artists bring to life on stage, making each event a memorable encounter with the people behind the music.
Christa Mayer received her vocal training at the Bavarian Singers’ Academy and the Munich University of Music and Performing Arts, where she graduated in 2001 with a master class diploma. While still a student, she received several awards, including prizes at the International ARD Music Competition and from the Richard Strauss Society Munich. The Bayreuth Festival holds a special place in her career. In 2008, under the direction of Christian Thielemann, she made her debut on the “Green Hill” singing Erda and Waltraute. Since then, the Bayreuth Festival has been a permanent fixture in her calendar, where she has also performed roles such as Brangäne, Fricka, Waltraute, and Magdalene.
This in-person-only event will take place at the Arvena Kongress Hotel in Bayreuth, Germany.
Tickets are $15 in advance online, €15 cash or credit card at the door.
Get the Series: all six artists talks for $60 (a $30 savings). Pre-purchase is recommended to expedite entry and seating.

Bayreuth Post-Walküre Dinner (Ring III)
2026-08-13 22:00 - 23:59 (Europe/Berlin) | Bürgerreuth Restaurant, an der Bürgerreuth 20, Bayreuth, 95445, Germany
Post-Walküre Dinner at Bürgerreuth Restaurant
Saturday, 13 August, approx. 10:00 p.m.
an der Bürgerreuth 20, 95445 Bayreuth – link to map
Interested in an al fresco Italian dinner with other English-speaking Festival attendees after Die Walküre? We’ve reserved the outdoor space at Bürgerreuth, a 5 minute walk from the Festspielhaus, and will arrange for appetizers to be ready on our arrival. Enjoy a lively conversation with other devoted Wagner fans, meet old friends and make new connections. Join us for a drink, and order à la carte as you like – pay your own way individually at the restaurant. In case of cold or inclement weather, we will have a space inside the restaurant.
This event is reserved for a limited number of attendees. RSVP by Monday, 10 August at 12:00 noon CEST. If the event is full, submit your name and e-mail address in the form below to be added to the waitlist and be notified by e-mail of any openings.
Please select your appetizer in advance.
(prices current at time of posting)
Appetizers:
Prosciutto di San Daniele, 19,80 €
Air-dried ham from San Daniele in Friuli with Cantaloupe
Filetto al Carpaccio, 19,80 €
Thin slices of raw beef with lemon, olive-oil and freshly shaved slices of parmesan
Vitello Tonnato, 15,80 €
Thin slices of roasted veal with tuna sauce
Mozzarella di Bufala alla Caprese, 19,80 €
Original Buffalo mozzarella from campania prepared with olive oil, tomatoes, basil and oregano

Bayreuth Artist Talk: Camilla Nylund
2026-08-14 10:30 - 11:30 (Europe/Berlin) | Arvena Kongress Hotel, Eduard-Bayerlin Str. 5a, Bayreuth, 95445, Germany
Camilla Nylund performs Brünnhilde this year in the entire Ring Cycle; previously in Bayreuth she has sung Isolde, Elsa von Brabant, Eva Pogner, and Elisabeth. Join us in 2026 for the Bayreuth Artists Talks Series, an engaging opportunity to connect with the exceptional performers of the Bayreuth Festival. These intimate sessions offer audiences a rare glimpse behind the scenes as artists reflect on their careers, share insights into their roles and creative processes, and discuss the unique experience of performing at Bayreuth. With a relaxed and informal setting, these conversations provide a deeper understanding of the works the artists bring to life on stage, making each event a memorable encounter with the people behind the music.
After being a troupe member in Hanover and at the Semperoper Dresden, Camilla Nylund is now one of the internationally most sought-after singers in her field and is a regular guest at all major opera houses – at the Vienna State Opera, the Bavarian State Opera in Munich, the Metropolitan Opera New York, La Scala di Milano, the Paris Bastille, the Berlin and Hamburg State Operas, the Deutsche Oper Berlin, at the Bayreuth and Salzburg Festivals, in Barcelona, Valencia, Zurich, Helsinki, Cologne, Frankfurt, Amsterdam, Tokyo, San Francisco.
This in-person-only event will take place at the Arvena Kongress Hotel in Bayreuth, Germany.
Tickets are $15 in advance online, €15 cash or credit card at the door.
Get the Series: all six artists talks for $60 (a $30 savings). Pre-purchase is recommended to expedite entry and seating.

Bayreuth Artist Talk: Marcus Lobbes
2026-08-15 10:30 - 11:30 (Europe/Berlin) | Arvena Kongress Hotel, Eduard-Bayerlin Str. 5a, Bayreuth, 95445, Germany
Join us in 2026 for the Bayreuth Artists Talks Series, an engaging opportunity to connect with the exceptional performers of the Bayreuth Festival. This talk with Marcus Lobbes, Curator and director of the Artistic and Technical Concept of ‘Ring 10010110’ – the 150th Anniversary Ring: “Using new imaging techniques and a mixture of live coding, artificial intelligence, and holography, a monumental tetralogy, a world of power, love, betrayal, and downfall, and at the same time a place of constant transformation, is curated with new imaging techniques. With a mixture of live coding, artificial intelligence, and holography, Marcus Lobbes and his team are creating an experiment of visionary power. Under the title “RING 10010110,” Richard Wagner’s music drama and its reception history take center stage—through a visual level that is constantly changing, expanding, recomposing, and contradicting itself. For the first time in the history of the festival, artificial intelligence will play live on stage – not as a character, but as an imaging force.” These intimate sessions offer audiences a rare glimpse behind the scenes as artists reflect on their careers, share insights into their roles and creative processes, and discuss the unique experience of performing at Bayreuth. With a relaxed and informal setting, these conversations provide a deeper understanding of the works the artists bring to life on stage, making each event a memorable encounter with the people behind the music.
As Director of the Dortmund Academy, Marcus Lobbes is in high demand locally, nationally, and internationally for lectures and panel discussions; he is particularly committed to fostering and promoting a wide variety of networks in the performing arts, as well as communicating artistic research — in dialogue with the latest technologies — to theater and educational institutions, policymakers, and the general public.
He is also active on numerous committees, boards of trustees, and juries; for example, since 2024 he has served as vice president of the German Academy of Performing Arts and as a member of the board of trustees of the Performing Arts Fund.
Since 1995, he has worked as a director, set designer, and writer in musical and spoken theater. His focus is on uncompromisingly contemporary adaptations of classics as well as numerous world premieres and first performances at many renowned theaters across Germany in over 80 productions to date, including at the Düsseldorf Schauspielhaus, the Frankfurt Opera, the Hamburg Opera, the National Theater Mannheim, the State Theaters in Kassel, Mainz, Saarbrücken, Darmstadt, and Braunschweig, the Schauspiel Dortmund, the Theater Freiburg, and the Wuppertaler Bühnen.
His artistic signature is characterized by innovative forms of collective work with ensembles and his close collaboration with contemporary writers and composers. In addition to numerous invitations and awards, his approach is also finding its way into the training of young artists:
Since 2014, he has been invited as a guest lecturer and speaker to the Academy of Performing Arts in Ludwigsburg, the Mozarteum in Salzburg, the University of Rostock, the University of Applied Sciences Mainz, the Zurich University of the Arts, the Berlin University of the Arts (UDK), the Robert Schumann University of Music in Düsseldorf, and, since 2016, annually to the University of Music and Performing Arts Graz.
This in-person-only event will take place at the Arvena Kongress Hotel in Bayreuth, Germany.
Tickets are $15 in advance online, €15 cash or credit card at the door.
Get the Series: all six artists talks for $60 (a $30 savings). Pre-purchase is recommended to expedite entry and seating.
