Wagner Society of New York

Organ Recital with Christopher Houlihan
2025-02-23 17:00 - 17:45 (America/New_York) | Cathedral of St. John the Divine, 1047 Amsterdam Ave., New York, NY, 10025, United States
Organist Christopher Houlihan performs transcriptions of Wagner’s compositions and other works, in this program co-presented with the Cathedral of St. John the Divine. The program will last 45 minutes.
Program:
Franz Liszt: Fantasy and Fugue on the Chorale “Ad nos, ad salutarem undam”, S. 259
Richard Wagner: Foot washing, anointing, and Good Friday Music from Parsifal (Edwin Henry Lemare, transcription)
Organist Christopher Houlihan
The organist Christopher Houlihan has established an international reputation as a “passionate and intelligently virtuoso musician” (Gramophone), hailed for “glowing, miraculously life-affirming performances” (Los Angeles Times). His playing has been praised as “eloquent” (The New York Times), and “dazzling” (The Wall Street Journal). Houlihan has concertized at major concert venues throughout the United States, including the Kennedy Center, the Kimmel Center, Davies Symphony Hall, and Walt Disney Concert Hall, where he performed with the principal Brass of the Los Angeles Philharmonic. The Los Angeles Times raved about his debut, proclaiming, “Houlihan is the next big organ talent.”
Houlihan serves on the music faculty of Trinity College, Hartford, as the John Rose Distinguished College Organist, Director of Choral Chapel Music, and Artist-in-Residence. Since 2022, he is also Artistic Director of the Albert Schweitzer Organ Festival Hartford, presenter of one of the premier North American competitions for young organists.
All are welcome; admission is free and an RSVP is not required. Please note that this performance immediately follows the 4:00 p.m. Evensong; please enter the Cathedral Church in such a manner as not to disrupt the service.
Accessibility: The Cathedral is wheelchair accessible via a ramp just north of the main entrance, off of Amsterdam Avenue below 113th Street. Map online here.

Anton Bruckner & Richard Wagner
2025-03-20 18:30 - 20:30 (America/New_York) | National Opera Center, 330 Seventh Avenue, 7th Floor, New York, NY, 10001, United States
Conductor Jakob Lehmann presents an exploration of the fascinating relationship between Anton Bruckner and Richard Wagner – a connection that was characterized by one-sided admiration and disappointed hopes. The younger revered the elder, even if the latter did not always fulfill his few promises. For Bruckner, however, Wagner always remained the ‘master of all masters.’ Particular attention will be paid to the myth of Bruckner’s “Wagner symphony” and the facts behind it. Audio examples will show how performance traditions of both composers have changed over the years, from the first recorded performances to today’s interpretations.

Jakob Lehmann on Bruckner & Wagner March 2025

For further reading: Bruckner in Bayreuth from the Anton Bruckner Institut Linz (in German)

Social hour after the evening's lecture

“There is so much mythmaking going on in the 20th century, and especially once the Third Reich started to get their hands and their ideology on Bruckner. There is so much mythmaking that has nothing to do with historical precedent – and still today – that mythmaking is influencing the actual musical interpretations of these pieces. And what I think may not really be clear enough to us is that with many other composers, we have tried to make a clean slate: But in Wagner and Bruckner, that just hasn’t happened yet in the way that it maybe should have happened. And this is something that I’ve personally been very interested in exploring.”
About the speaker: Conductor Jakob Lehmann is the Artistic Director of the chamber orchestra Eroica Berlin, and Associate Artistic Director of New York based Bel canto festival Teatro Nuovo. The week after his appearance with the WSNY he will lead period instrument ensemble Juilliard415 in a performance of Beethoven’s Overture to The Creatures of Prometheus, Symphony No. 1 and Symphony No. 2, live at Alice Tully Hall, and streamed on Juilliard.live and WQXR on Saturday, March 29 at 7:30 p.m.
The event will be followed by a social hour with refreshments.
Source Material: Mr. Lehmann emphasized the importance of the book Bruckner in Bayreuth, a publication of the Anton Bruckner Institut Linz (2019, Musikwissenschaftlicher Verlag Wien – in German).
Livestream: the event will be livestreamed (viewable up to 36 hours after the start of the event). WSNY Members will receive livestream link automatically by e-mail; no need to pre-register.
Accessibility: The Opera America building has ground-level entry with elevators to the 7th floor. Wheelchair accessible; modular seating will be arranged to accommodate wheelchairs and walkers. Handicap-accessible restrooms are available on the same floor. The venue is located on the west side of 7th Avenue between 28th-29th Streets, closer to 29th Street. Sidewalk curb cuts at the 29th Street corner are uneven; for easier access and tactile paving enter from the 28th Street corner (at the downtown #1 subway station).

Last Call: Play by Peter Danish
2025-03-21 20:00 - 21:30 (America/New_York) | New World Stages, 340 W 50th St., New York, NY, 10019, United States
Two Musical Legends. One Last Drink.
Join Wagner Society of New York members for a performance of the new play, “Last Call,” inspired by the final meeting of Herbert von Karajan and Leonard Bernstein.
“For half a century, American conductor and composer Leonard Bernstein and Austrian conductor Herbert von Karajan were the world’s most celebrated figures in classical music – and the fiercest of rivals. Their influence transcended music into popular culture, politics, and almost every facet of the modern landscape. Late in their lives these titans of classical music unexpectedly crossed paths one last time at the Sacher Hotel in Vienna. Inspired by true events, Last Call brings us to this meeting as both men struggle to find common ground through their music and their lives over one last drink. The play mixes storytelling and music, giving audience members a glimpse into the complex minds of these two music titans.”
Bernstein and von Karajan are played by two of Germany’s leading actresses, American-born Helen Schneider (Norma Desmond in the German Sunset Boulevard, Sally Bowles in the German Cabaret) as Bernstein and Lucca Züchner (On the Town, Cabaret) as von Karajan. “Music, central to both conductors’ lives, plays a significant role in Last Call. Although it is a play rather than a musical, the production features an expressive and atmospheric soundscape … Bernstein and von Karajan’s debates about their artistic methods and philosophies are underscored by musical segments, enhancing emotional depth and providing poetic resonance to their conversations.” – Court Stroud, Forbes. Author Peter Danish is a best-selling playwright, filmmaker, and composer. Full information online here. The performance lasts 90 minutes with no intermission.
A Special Opportunity: Our members are invited to stay after the performance for a special, private post-performance ‘talkback’ with the creative team including playwright Peter Danish.
Tickets: Our block of tickets – prime seating at a 15% discount – is for the Friday, March 21 8:00 p.m. performance. PDF e-tickets will be e-mailed to you.
Venue & Accessibility: New World Stages, 340 W 50th St. between Eighth and Ninth Avenues. There are no steps to the box office. There is an elevator and an escalator providing access from the box office lobby to the orchestra and mezzanine levels of the theatre. Wheelchair or transfer seats (aisle seat with folding armrest) available upon request. Full accessibility information online here.

Tenor Shawn Roth in Recital
2025-04-13 15:00 - 16:30 (America/New_York) | Scandinavia House, 58 Park Ave., New York, NY, 10016, United States
The winner of the 2024 Lauch Memorial Award from the Wagner Society of New York, tenor Shawn Roth is a promising and exciting young artist. He was the winner of the 2021 Marilyn Horne Song Competition, and has also won awards in The Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition, the Meistersinger Competition, the Houston Saengerbund, the Eleanor McCollum Competition, and Neue Stimmen. In fall 2024, Roth joined the roster of the Butler Studio at Houston Grand Opera. Roth’s 2024-2025 season includes Heinrich der Schreiber in Tannhäuser and covering Tony in West Side Story (Houston Grand Opera), and Don José in Carmen (Corpus Christi Symphony Orchestra). In the summer of 2025, he looks forward to returning to Des Moines Metro Opera, where he will sing the role of Pašek in The Cunning Little Vixen and cover Erik in Der fliegende Holländer.

Program:

“Ein Schwert verhieß mir der Vater” from Die Walküre – Richard Wagner

watch the video from his 2024 prize-winning performance online here

“An die ferne Geliebte” – Ludwig van Beethoven
~Pause~
“Pace non trovo” – Franz Liszt
Wesendonck Lieder – Wagner
“Winterstürme wichen dem Wonnemond” from Die Walküre – Wagner
Artyom Pak, piano accompanist

The recital will be followed by a reception with refreshments.
Venue & Accessibility: The recital takes place in Victor Borge Hall in Scandinavia House, 58 Park Ave. between E 37th and E 38th Streets, and is wheelchair accessible.
Tickets: WSNY Members $20, Non-Members $30; WSNY Student Members free, Student non-members $20

Houston Tannhäuser Intermission Reception
2025-04-25 20:30 - 21:00 (America/Chicago) | Houston Grand Opera, 501 Texas Ave., Houston, TX, 77002, United States
Join fellow WSNY Members, representatives of the Houston Grand Opera, and other special guests for an intermission reception during the Friday, April 25 premiere of Tannhäuser at the Houston Grand Opera. Note that the ‘Dresden’ version will be performed, with minor cuts, and two intermissions. WSNY Members are kindly requested to RSVP before Friday, April 18, 2025.

Atlanta Opera Siegfried Events
2025-04-26 | NY
Members of the Wagner Society of New York have been invited to special events around the Saturday, April 26, 2025 performance of Siegfried at Atlanta Opera.
Join us for these offers and events:
1. Ticket Discount Code: WSNY members, check your e-mail for code
2. Pre-Performance Symposium hosted by Atlanta Opera on Saturday, 26 April from 10am-2pm – details online here.
3. Intermission meet-up: at the concession near the main entrance
4. Post-Performance nightcap at the Renaissance Atlanta Waverly – no RSVP required
5. Group brunch on Sunday, April 27 at 11:00am – RSVP by Fri 4/25 noon online here

Atlanta Siegfried Post-Performance Brunch
2025-04-27 11:00 - 12:30 (America/New_York) | 9 Mile Station, 675 Ponce de Leon Ave. NE, Atlanta, GA, 30308, United States
Join WSNY Members and Guests for a post-performance brunch at 9 Mile Station, a rooftop restaurant at Ponce City Market in Atlanta’s Old Fourth Ward. The restaurant offers sandwiches, salads, brunch items, entrées, and a full bar – check out the menu here. Enjoy a casual meet-up to discuss Siegfried and take in the sweeping views of the Atlanta Skyline. Ponce City Market, originally a Sears, Roebuck & Co. warehouse and showroom, has been converted to a multi-use dining, shopping, and entertainment space.
The $25 fee holds your seat and will be credited against your bill; it is forfeited in case of a no-show. Diners are responsible for their portion of the check and an automatic 20% gratuity; please bring cash. RSVP by Fri. 4/25 at noon.
Location:
Nine Mile Station is located on the rooftop of Ponce City Market in Atlanta’s historic Old Fourth Ward.
From the courtyard: Look for an orange kiosk with a lighted “The Roof” sign at the East end entrance to the Food Hall by Anthropologie and Posman Books.
From the BeltLine: Head through the corridor and down to the end of the wooden walkway. At the end, take the outdoor elevator or stairs down to the courtyard. From there, go left towards Anthropologie. Just outside Anthropologie look for the Kiosk with a lighted “The Roof” sign at the East end entrance to get to The Roof.
There you will find our helpful staff that can direct you to Nine Mile Station.
Parking: Ponce City Market offers both valet parking and self-parking. You will be able to pay for parking at one of the kiosks or on the ParkMobile app (zone 222). Please allow at least 30 minutes to park, check-in, and access The Roof.

Pre-Performance Meet-Up: Simone Young & Bruckner 6
2025-05-02 13:15 - 14:00 (America/New_York) | David Geffen Hall, 10 Lincoln Center Plaza, New York, NY, 10023, United States
Pre-Performance Meet-Up: Friday, May 2 Matinée of Simone Young directing the New York Philharmonic in Bruckner’s Sixth Symphony, Schumann’s Cello Concerto, and and Schoenberg’s Notturno – 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.

Reception with Conductor Simone Young - For Special Contributors
2025-05-02 16:30 - 18:00 (America/New_York) | NY
Conductor Simone Young will again join the Wagner Society of New York, this time for a private reception following her matinée performance of Bruckner’s Sixth Symphony with the New York Philharmonic.
For Special Contributors (Patrons and above) only – a separate invite will be sent via e-mail.

Singers Competition Finals
2025-05-20 14:00 - 16:00 (America/New_York) | Merkin Hall, 129 W 67th St., New York, NY, 10023, United States
Photo: Roger Malouf, Deborah Surdi, Cori Ellison, James Morris, Ken Benson, and Tyson Deaton at the 2024 Singers Competition Finals

Hear the future of Wagnerian singing: Our annual Singers Competition Finals will take place on Tuesday, May 20 and this year, for the first time, 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 and the Ursula Springer Endowed Fund, 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. Our 2025 special guest judge will be renowned Wagnerian soprano Jane Eaglen, alongside Cori Ellison, Tyson Deaton, Ken Benson, Roger Malouf, and Deborah Surdi.
Learn more about the Singers Awards and competition requirements online here.
Finalists: To be announced
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 to WSNY Members only. Tickets are offered as “pay what you wish,” with all ticket revenue directed to the Society’s Fund for Singers.

Pre-Performance Meet-Up: Salome at the Met
2025-05-21 19:15 - 20:00 (America/New_York) | NY
Pre-Performance Meet-Up: Wednesday, May 21 performance of Salome at the Metropolitan Opera – 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 Dress Circle level (center) – 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.

Book Launch: Wagner and the Creation of the Ring
2025-06-11 18:30 - 20:00 (America/New_York) | National Opera Center, 330 Seventh Avenue, 7th Floor, New York, NY, 10001, United States
Join the Wagner Society of New York in a special U.S. Book Release: Story of the Century: Wagner and the Creation of the Ring and a talk by its author Michael Downes. Part cultural history, part biography, this is the fascinating story of Richard Wagner’s life, influences, gift for storytelling, and artistic revolution, culminating in his dramatic journey to write The Ring Cycle. Downes states that “the Ring is a story not only from the nineteenth century, but also about it.”
Having garnered favorable reviews (Gramophone, Opera News, Edinburgh Music Review) from its November 2024 U.K. release (Faber & Faber) and named one of the 5 best music books of the year by Presto, we are proud to co-host this U.S. book launch with publishing house Pegasus Books. Credit Card orders for hardcover copies of the work will be available for pre-sale – order online here.
The event will be followed by a social hour with refreshments.
About the author: Michael Downes is a celebrated conductor, writer, lecturer, and co-author of The Wagners: The Dramas of a Musical Dynasty (Princeton University Press). He is the director of music at the University of St. Andrews, Scotland. Before moving to Scotland, he conducted numerous choral, operatic, orchestral, and contemporary music groups across England.

Livestream: the event will be livestreamed (viewable up to 36 hours after the start of the event). WSNY Members will receive livestream link automatically by e-mail; no need to pre-register.
Venue & Accessibility: The Opera America building has ground-level entry with elevators to the 7th floor. Wheelchair accessible; modular seating will be arranged to accommodate wheelchairs and walkers. Handicap-accessible restrooms are available on the same floor. The venue is located on the west side of 7th Avenue between 28th-29th Streets, closer to 29th Street. Sidewalk curb cuts at the 29th Street corner are uneven; for easier access and tactile paving enter from the 28th Street corner (at the downtown #1 subway station).

Pre-Bayreuth Happy Hour Meet-Up
2025-07-22 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.

Bayreuth Post-Walküre Dinner
2025-08-16 22:00 - 23:59 (Europe/Berlin) | Bürgerreuth Restaurant, an der Bürgerreuth 20, Bayreuth, 95445, Germany
Post-Walküre Dinner at Bürgerreuth Restaurant
Saturday, 16 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 Thursday, 14 August at 12:00 noon EST. 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 booking)
Appetizers:
Prosciutto di San Daniele, 19,80 €
Air-dried ham from San Daniele in Friuli with Cantaloupe
Filetto al Carpaccio, 15,80 €
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, 16,80 €
Original Buffalo mozzarella from campania prepared with olive oil, tomatoes, basil and oregano
Prosciutto di San Daniele e Mozzarella di Bufala, 19,80 €
Air-dried ham from San Daniele in Friuli and buffalo mozzarella from Campania

Bayreuth Artist Talk: Ekaterina Gubanova
2025-08-18 10:30 - 23:30 (Europe/Berlin) | Arvena Kongress Hotel, Eduard-Bayerlin Str. 5a, Bayreuth, 95445, Germany
Join us in 2025 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.
Ekaterina Gubanova (2025: Kundry in Parsifal, Brangäne in Tristan und Isolde; Venus in Tannhäuser 2019-24) is acknowledged as one of the leading mezzos of our days. Born in Moscow she first studied piano before being trained as an opera singer at the Moscow Tchaikovsky Conservatoire, the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki and as a member of the Young Artists Program at the Royal Opera House in London. Since then, she regularly guests at the major opera houses and festivals worldwide, such as the Metropolitan Opera New York, the Lyric Opera Chicago, La Scala in Milano, the Rome Opera, the Royal Opera House Covent Garden, the Opera national de Paris, the Vienna State Opera, the Bavarian State Opera, the Berlin State Opera, the Hamburg State Opera, the Bolshoi Theatre, the Mariinsky Theatre, the Gran Teatro del Liceu Barcelona, the Teatro Real Madrid as well as the Bayreuth festival.
The 2024/25 season sees Ekaterina Gubanova in new productions of Das Rheingold (Fricka) at the Bavarian State Opera in Munich, and Rusalka (Foreign Princess) at the Teatro di San Carlo in Naples. Later in the season, she also returns to the Paris Opera for Don Carlos and to the Vienna State Opera for a new production of Tannhäuser.
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 five artists talks plus Parsifal Mythologies for $60 (a $30 savings). Pre-purchase is recommended to expedite entry and seating.

Bayreuth Artist Talk: Jordan Shanahan
2025-08-19 10:30 - 11:30 (Europe/Berlin) | Arvena Kongress Hotel, Eduard-Bayerlin Str. 5a, Bayreuth, 95445, Germany
Join us in 2025 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.
Jordan Shanahan (Kurwenal in Tristan und Isolde, Klingsor in Parsifal, Kothner in Die Meistersinger) has made a name for himself internationally, particularly with his charismatic interpretations of dramatic roles. In the 2024/205 season, he sang Monterone in Rigoletto at the Metropolitan Opera, his debut in Portugal at the Casa da Música in Porto with Zemlinsky’s Lyrische Symphonie, a new production of Die Frau ohne Schatten as Barak at the Deutsche Oper Berlin and his house debut at the Vienna State Opera as Telramund in Lohengrin with Christian Thielemann. In addition to the standard repertoire, Jordan Shanahan has also made a name for himself in contemporary repertoire and with roles such as Joseph de Rocher in Dead Man Walking, Robert Oppenheimer in Dr. Atomic, The Protector in Written on Skin and Il Uomo Senza Sangue.
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 five artists talks plus Parsifal Mythologies for $60 (a $30 savings). Pre-purchase is recommended to expedite entry and seating.

Bayreuth Artist Talk: Michael Spyres
2025-08-20 10:30 - 11:30 (Europe/Berlin) | Arvena Kongress Hotel, Eduard-Bayerlin Str. 5a, Bayreuth, 95445, Germany
Join us in 2025 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.

Michael Spyres (Siegmund in Die Walküre, Walther in Die Meistersinger) is one of the most accomplished tenors of his generation with already 10 DVDs and 30 CDs to his name. Born and raised in the Ozarks in an extremely musical family, he has been celebrated in the world’s most prestigious international opera houses, festivals and concert halls. Acclaimed in the widest range of repertoire, he has tackled every genre from Baroque to Classical to 20th century music, while firmly establishing himself as an expert within the Bel Canto, Romantic, and French Grand Opera genres. Michael has sung at many of the world’s most prestigious opera houses, concert halls and festivals such as the Teatro alla Scala, Metropolitan Opera, Wiener Staatsoper, Royal Opera Covent Garden, Paris Opéra National, Bayerische Staatsoper, Teatro Real Madrid, Liceu Barcelona, Lyric Opera Chicago, Houston Grand Opera, Festspielhaus Baden-Baden, La Monnaie Brussels, Dutch National Opera, Semperoper Dresden, Théâtre des Champs-Elysées of Paris, Carnegie Hall, Gewandhaus Leipzig, Bunka Kaikan Hall Tokyo, Salzburg Festival, Aix-en-Provence Festival, Rossini Opera Festival Pesaro, the Edinburgh Festival and the BBC Proms.
Since 2015 Michael has had the honor to be the only International Opera Star who is not just a performer but also an impresario. Mr. Spyres has been the Artistic Director of his hometown opera company, the Ozarks Lyric Opera, and has been involved in every aspect of the renaissance of his regional company. In addition to being the active Artistic Director he has translated libretti and actively teaches masterclasses while guiding young artists’ careers. The last years have seen him produce numerous events as well as 15 operas and 5 gala concerts. In 2021, Michael was honored with the highest honor officially bestowed to artists in France, the prestigious Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres designation by the government of France.

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 five artists talks plus Parsifal Mythologies for $60 (a $30 savings). Pre-purchase is recommended to expedite entry and seating.

Parsifal: Sources and Mythologies: a Talk with Thomas Launius
2025-08-21 10:30 - 12:00 (Europe/Berlin) | Arvena Kongress Hotel, Eduard-Bayerlin Str. 5a, Bayreuth, 95445, Germany
This talk will explore the origins and evolution of the Grail Legends, beginning with their first written form in the late 12th and early 13th centuries, created as a response to the early decline of Christianity in Europe. We’ll then examine how these legends resurfaced between 1775 and 1900, during a time of social upheaval and the rise of German cultural identity, inspiring new artistic and psychological interpretations. The ancient tradition of Storytelling in Europe, both in its original oral form and then later as written, understood that a Storyteller never “created” a story, but rather, inherited it, and then it was their sacred responsibility to be faithful to that original inheritance while at the same time developing it to speak authentically to a new generation. Turning towards Wagner’s Parsifal, we will explore some of the ways Wagner adapted and shaped the material he inherited and how the final result has its own special message.
About the speaker: Thomas Launius was born into a military family and spent his early years living in England, Germany, Japan, and the United States. He came of age in Louisiana and earned a degree in Physics from Louisiana State University, along with a minor in Vocal Performance. Trained as a tenor, he sang in university and regional opera productions for five years before turning to the academic study of story and symbol. He later earned a doctorate in Mythology and spent over three decades as a professional storyteller and speaker.
In 2017, Thomas fulfilled a lifelong dream by relocating to Bavaria, not far from Munich. Since 2019, he has worked as a professional tour guide, specializing in historically rich and mythologically resonant experiences throughout Munich, Salzburg, and especially Neuschwanstein Castle—the fairytale fortress built by King Ludwig II as a tribute to Richard Wagner. Drawing on his background in mythology, music, and narrative craft, Thomas creates immersive tours that bring to life the operatic vision behind the castle’s creation and illuminate the deep connections between Wagner’s works and the cultural landscape of Bavaria.
This discussion will be followed by an extended audience Q&A and discussion session.

Bayreuth Artist Talk: Matthew Newlin
2025-08-22 10:30 - 11:30 (Europe/Berlin) | Arvena Kongress Hotel, Eduard-Bayerlin Str. 5a, Bayreuth, 95445, Germany
Join us in 2025 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.

Matthew Newlin (Eisslinger in Die Meistersinger, Junger Seemann in Tristan und Isolde, 4th Knappe in Parsifal) has been a member of the ensemble at Deutsche Oper Berlin since 2013, where he regularly performs such leading roles as Tamino, Don Jose, Alfredo, and Count Almaviva. He enjoys an international career, performing in major theatres across Europe, and can be heard in recordings of Handel’s Semele and Samson. Matthew’s versatile singing, excellent musicianship, and natural stagecraft affords him success in a wide range of repertoire, from the Baroque to the Modern. This coming season he’ll also be performing the role of Siegmund in Die Walküre at Deutsche Oper Berlin.

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 five artists talks plus Parsifal Mythologies for $60 (a $30 savings). Pre-purchase is recommended to expedite entry and seating.

Bayreuth Artist Talk: Michael Nagy
2025-08-23 10:30 - 11:30 (Europe/Berlin) | Arvena Kongress Hotel, Eduard-Bayerlin Str. 5a, Bayreuth, 95445, Germany
Join us in 2025 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.
Michael Nagy (Beckmesser in Die Meistersinger; Wolfram von Eschenbach Tannhäuser, 2011-13), began his musical career with the Stuttgart Hymnus Boys’ Choir. He studied singing, Lied interpretation and conducting with Rudolf Piernay, Irwin Gage and Klaus Arp in Mannheim and Saarbrücken and enhanced his education in master classes held by Charles Spencer, Cornelius Reid and Rudolf Piernay. Michael Nagy became an ensemble member of the Komische Oper Berlin before moving on to Frankfurt Opera, where he was able to develop his repertoire in roles such as Paragon (The Magic Flute), Count Almaviva (The Marriage of Figaro), Wolfram (Tannhäuser), Valentin (Faust), Prince Yeletsky (Pique Dame), Marcello (La Bohème), Albert (Werther), Frank/Fritz (Die tote Stadt), and Dr. Falke (Die Fledermaus).
His 2024-25 concert season offered a wide repertoire with performances including Arnold Schoenberg’s Gurre-Lieder and Schoenberg’s Jakobsleiter under the baton of Ingo Metzmacher at the Elbphilharmonie. He sang The Creation with the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra, Brahms’ Requiem in Utrecht and Amsterdam, Mahler’s Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen in Warsaw, as well as Mahler’s 8th Symphony with the Boston Symphony Orchestra and at the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam.
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 five artists talks plus Parsifal Mythologies for $60 (a $30 savings). Pre-purchase is recommended to expedite entry and seating.

Parsifal Farewell Luncheon
2025-08-24 12:00 - 14:00 (Europe/Berlin) | Oskar: Das Wirtshaus am Markt, Maximilianstraße 33, Bayreuth, Bayern, 95444, Germany
Join Bayreuth attendees for a final lunch on Sunday, 24 August before the end of the Festival. We’ve got a large table reserved at Oskar: Das Wirtshaus am Markt in the heart of the old city and a reliable provider of traditional Bavarian fare. Enjoy a refreshing Weissbier or lemonade, and wrestle with a Schweinshaxe while simultaneously wrestling with the ideas of Wagner’s Festival-for-the-Consecration-of-the-Stage. We’re keeping this lunch strictly from noon till 2:00 p.m. in order to give everyone time to change before the 4:00 performance. Guests are of course responsible for their own checks.
RSVP by Wednesday, 20 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.

Die Meistersinger in HD: Bayreuth Premiere
2025-09-08 16:00 - 22:00 (America/New_York) | Dolby Screening Room, 1350 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY, 10019, United States
On Friday, July 25, 2025, in Bayreuth, Germany, a bold new production of Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg will premiere—one of the most anticipated events of the Wagnerian calendar. This September, we’ll bring the performance to midtown Manhattan in a stunning High-Definition re-stream at a modern screening room with immersive Dolby Atmos sound and crystal-clear 4k visuals. Experience the energy of Bayreuth’s opening night without leaving New York—no black tie, no travel, and yes, air conditioning.
Settle into plush seating and lose yourself in Wagner’s celebration of art, tradition, and individuality—reimagined by musical theatre veteran Matthias Davids and conducted by Daniele Gatti. This is not just another opera screening—it’s a front-row seat to a major cultural moment, shared with fellow enthusiasts in comfort and style.
Dolby88 Screening Room
About the production: Matthias Davids, best known as the award‑winning director of musicals such as Jesus Christ Superstar, West Side Story and Sweeney Todd at German-language theatres like Düsseldorf and Vienna, and — as artistic head of the musical division at the Landestheater Linz — has now taken on Wagner’s only mature comedy for his Bayreuth debut. Davids has said that his aim is to uncover the inherent humor in Die Meistersinger, not to reduce it to buffoonery, but to let those moments illuminate the opera’s loftier emotional truths — and he’s leaned deeply into Wagner’s own stage directions to craft a production that feels “plausible” to modern audiences. With Georg Zeppenfeld as Hans Sachs, Michael Nagy as Beckmesser, Michael Spyres as Walther, and Christina Nilsson as Eva, the work will be conducted by maestro Daniele Gatti, who notably returns to Bayreuth after conducting Parsifal from 2008–11.
Enjoy this unique performance opportunity and then join us later in the week for a panel discussion on the influence and impact of the work.
Pricing: $45 for WSNY members. 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. All waitlisted persons are notified at once and remaining tickets are first-come, first-served.
Schedule (please note revised intermission durations):

4:00 p.m.
doors open

4:30 p.m.
performance begins

5:55 p.m.
Act I end / Intermission 1 start

Intermission duration:
15 minutes

6:10 p.m.
Intermission 1 end / Act II start

7:11 p.m.
Act II end / Intermission 2 start

Intermission duration:
30 minutes

7:41 p.m.
Intermission 2 end / Act III begin

10:00 p.m.
Act III / performance end

The Experience: The first intermission allows for a short break between acts. The second intermission gives guests time to enjoy a quick dinner or dessert at one of the many casual restaurants nearby. Please note that food and drink are not permitted inside the auditorium, and lobby space is limited, with very few seats or tables available. We encourage you to step outside, stretch your legs, and enjoy the neighborhood during the longer break—just be sure to return in time for the next act! This is a unique opportunity to experience a legendary Bayreuth performance in real time, with built-in moments to relax and recharge between acts.
Seating is general admission; the performance will be screened with subtitles.
Digital Program Book: Available from the Bayreuther Festspiele as an e-book for 5.00 € online here.
Cast & Creative:

Conductor
Daniele Gatti
Ulrich Eisslinger
Matthew Newlin

Director
Matthias Davids
Augustin Moser
Gideon Poppe

Stage design
Andrew D. Edwards
Hermann Ortel
Alexander Grassauer

Dramaturgy
Christoph Wagner-Trenkwitz
Hans Schwarz
Tijl Faveyts

Hans Sachs
Georg Zeppenfeld
Hans Foltz
Patrick Zielke

Veit Pogner
Jongmin Park
Walther von Stolzing
Michael Spyres

Kunz Vogelgesang
Martin Koch
David
Matthias Stier

Konrad Nachtigal
Werner Van Mechelen
Eva
Christina Nilsson

Sixtus Beckmesser
Michael Nagy
Magdalene
Christa Mayer

Fritz Kothner
Jordan Shanahan
Ein Nachtwächter
Tobias Kehrer

Balthasar Zorn
Daniel Jenz

Reports from Bayreuth: Meistersinger Panel Discussion
2025-09-11 19:00 - 20:30 (America/New_York) | National Opera Center, 330 Seventh Avenue, 7th Floor, New York, NY, 10001, United States
Our annual event highlighting the summer festival season, this year we devote our program to the Bayreuth Festival’s new production premiere: Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg directed by Matthias Davids. Join us in a panel discussion discussing this work in context with those who attended the Festival, examining how the musical and dramatic interpretation reframe Meistersinger within today’s cultural landscape, sparking debate about tradition, innovation, and Wagner’s enduring relevance.
We’ll begin with insights from our two scholarship winners, who will share their experiences attending the Festival this summer. The program continues with a panel discussion on the new Meistersinger von Nürnberg production: a staging by Matthias Davids that has sparked widespread conversation. The conversation will examine what makes a production “Wagnerian,” how effective the comedy is across text, music, and staging, and how technologies like Live-in-HD and streaming are reshaping opera today. Panelists include Jillian Murray, Griffin Kaiser, and Sanford Schwartz. This event is designed to spark thoughtful debate about tradition, innovation, and Wagner’s enduring relevance. Ample time will be devoted to audience Q&A and discussion, allowing members to add their voices and perspectives.
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 will receive livestream link automatically by e-mail; no need to pre-register.

Ryan Speedo Green in Conversation
2025-10-09 18:30 - 20:00 (America/New_York) | National Opera Center, 330 Seventh Avenue, 7th Floor, New York, NY, 10001, United States
Join us for a special evening with Grammy Award–winning bass-baritone Ryan Speedo Green, currently starring in the title role of Don Giovanni at the Metropolitan Opera. In conversation with dramaturg Cori Ellison, Mr. Green will discuss his career, artistic path, and upcoming major roles, including King Marke in Tristan und Isolde, Crown in Porgy and Bess, and Wotan in Die Walküre.
Named “the real showstopper” by the New York Times, Green is one of opera’s most acclaimed bass-baritones, regularly performing at leading opera houses and orchestras around the world, including the Metropolitan Opera, Bayerische Staatsoper, and the Los Angeles Philharmonic. Known for both his powerful stage presence and vocal artistry, Green continues to expand his repertoire with critically acclaimed debuts in both classic and contemporary works.
Program Change: This event replaces the “Hitler’s Twilight of the Gods: Teutonic Aesthetics and the Statecraft of the Third Reich” book talk with author Alexandra Birch.
Livestream: the event will be livestreamed (viewable up to 36 hours after the start of the event). WSNY Members will receive livestream link automatically by e-mail; no need to pre-register.

'Mahler' (1974) - A Film by Ken Russell
2025-11-13 18:30 - 21:00 (America/New_York) | Dolby Screening Room, 1350 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY, 10019, United States
Join us for a rare screening of Mahler (1974), Ken Russell’s audacious and visually stunning portrait of composer Gustav Mahler. Winner of the Technical Grand Prize at the 1974 Cannes Film Festival, Mahler is widely regarded as one of Russell’s most stirringly imaginative films. Set during the composer’s final days in 1911, the film follows Mahler (Robert Powell) and his wife Alma (Georgina Hale) on a train journey, during which the story of his life, loves, and inner turmoil unfolds through a dreamlike series of flashbacks. Hale’s performance as Alma Mahler earned her a 1975 BAFTA (Most Promising Newcomer to Leading Film Roles).
Russell’s signature style, blending emotional intensity with surrealist imagery, brings Mahler’s complex world to life: his struggles with antisemitism, his painful family history, his passionate yet strained relationship with Alma, and the shadow of his declining health. Featuring powerful performances and a rich musical backdrop, Mahler offers a deeply human and visually bold tribute to one of music’s great visionaries. Don’t miss this special opportunity to experience the film on the big screen with fellow Wagner and Mahler enthusiasts.

Program Change: This film replaces Hilan Warshaw’s ‘Mahler in New York’ which is under exclusive entry at a film festival and will be shown by WSNY at a later date.

Schedule: Doors at 6:30 p.m., film from 7:00-9:00 p.m. followed by a social hour with refreshments.

Accessibility: Venue is ADA accessible. Entrance is on 55th street at 6th Avenue, next door to Pret à Manger. There are sidewalk cutouts on the corner and an accessible entrance. Once through building security turnstiles, the movie theater-style-seating venue is on the lobby level, to your left. There are several stairs to the lobby level restroom but fully-accessible restrooms will be available by taking the elevator to another floor.

Recital by Winners of the 2025 Singers Competition
2025-12-13 19:00 - 20:30 (America/New_York) | Scandinavia House, 58 Park Ave., New York, NY, 10016, United States
Sadie Cheslak, mezzo-soprano
Winner, Robert Lauch Memorial Fund Award
Alec Carlson, tenor
Winner, Ursula Springer Memorial Endowment Fund Award
with
Mitchell Cirker, piano
Program
(Part I – c. 36:00)
CAMILLE SAINT-SAËNS (1835–1921)
“Mon cœur s’ouvre à ta voix”, from Samson et Dalila
RICHARD WAGNER (1813-1883)
“Dass der mein vater nicht ist”, from Siegfried
“In fernem Land”, from Lohengrin
“Höre mit Sinn”, from Götterdämmerung
“Schmerzen”, from Wesendonck Lieder
“Weiche, Wotan! Weiche”, from Das Rheingold
“Träume”, No. 5 from Wesendonck Lieder
INTERMISSION
(Part II – c. 30:00)
GUSTAV MAHLER (1860-1911)
“Ich bin der Welt abhanden gekommen”, from Rückert-lieder
“Das irdische Leben”, from Des Knaben Wunderhorn
“Das Trinklied vom Jammer der Erde”, from Das Lied von der Erde
“Blicket auf zum Retterblick”, from Symphony No. 8
GEORGES BIZET (1838-1875)
“C’est toi”, final scene from Carmen

Doors open at 6:30 p.m., program from 7:00-8:30 p.m., followed by a social hour with refreshments.

Jeffrey Swann on the Music of the Ring
2026-01-14 18:30 - 20:30 (America/New_York) | National Opera Center, 330 Seventh Avenue, 7th Floor, New York, NY, 10001, United States
Join us for a special event celebrating the release of The Music of the Ring: A Comprehensive Study of the Leitmotives and How They Are Used in Der Ring des Nibelungen. This monumental book—nearly 750 pages—offers an unparalleled deep dive into Wagner’s use of leitmotif, analyzing thousands of individual moments and hundreds of thematic phrases. With its meticulous detail and structural insights, it promises to become an essential resource for scholars, performers, and seriously engaged listeners alike. For this event, Swann will give his talk from the piano, illustrating key musical passages by playing them live at the keyboard.
The author, Jeffrey Swann, brings extraordinary expertise to the project. A celebrated American pianist and internationally renowned Wagner scholar, Swann has performed and lectured widely—from solo recitals with top orchestras in the U.S., Europe, Latin America and Asia, to lecture‑recitals at the Bayreuth Festival and numerous Wagner Society events. Swann’s dual identity as performer and scholar allows him to illuminate deeply musical and dramatic structures—from the introduction:
“Ultimately, this work rests on a paradox: it pinpoints in detail thousands of individual moments and analyzes hundreds of short phrases. Its value, on the other hand, lies in deepening and enhancing our appreciation of The Ring as a whole: to gain a better sense of its narrative and musical sweep, to understand its dynamic unity, it many structural features–and in the end, to gain deeper insights into its meanings.”
The event will be followed by a social hour with refreshments. Copies of the book will be available for purchase at the event.
The program will be preceded by a brief Annual Membership Meeting. The purpose of the Annual Meeting is to elect the 2026-27 Board of Directors and the transaction of such other business as may properly come before the meeting. Your vote is needed! Members of record will receive proxy forms by postal and email or can download here.
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: Strauss's Elektra Suite & Beethoven Violin Concerto
2026-01-29 18:45 - 19:30 (America/New_York) | David Geffen Hall, 10 Lincoln Center Plaza, New York, NY, 10023, United States
Thursday, January 29 performance of Beethoven’s Violin Concerto (with María Dueñas) and Richard Strauss’s Elektra Suite, with Manfred Honeck on the podium conducting 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/Brahms: Music, Culture, and Politics
2026-02-11 18:30 - 19:30 (America/New_York) | National Opera Center, 330 Seventh Avenue, 7th Floor, New York, NY, 10001, United States
Wagner/Brahms: Music, Culture, and Politics: A comparative study of two paragons of 19th century German romanticism.
This lecture will explore the relationship between two figures who were arguably the most important German composers of the late nineteenth century. Although early on Wagner and Brahms had several positive interactions and even expressed mutual admiration, the two composers became caught up in a broader culture war, pitted against each other by their respective followers. In this conflict, Wagner was often depicted as modern and progressive and Brahms as backward-looking and conservative. But their musical languages, as well as their cultural and political values, suggest the opposite may be the case.
About the speaker: Walter Frisch is H. Harold Gumm/Harry and Albert von Tilzer Professor of Music at Columbia University in New York, where he has taught since 1982. He has also been a guest professor at the University of Freiburg in Germany, Yale University, Princeton University, and the University of Pennsylvania and has lectured on music throughout the United States, and in England, France, Spain, Germany, and China.
Professor Frisch is a specialist in the music of composers from the Austro-German sphere in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, ranging from Schubert to Schoenberg. He has written numerous articles and two books on Brahms, including Brahms and the Principle of Developing Variation (1984) and Brahms: the Four Symphonies (1996, 2003). He served as editor of the volume Brahms and His World (1990, 2009) and was the founding president of the American Brahms Society in 1983. He is the co-author, with George S. Bozarth, of the Brahms article in the second edition of the New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians (2000). Professor Frisch’s publications on Schoenberg include the book The Early Works of Arnold Schoenberg, 1893-1908 (1993) and the edited volume Schoenberg and His World (1999). He also edited and contributed to a volume on Schubert’s music, Schubert: Critical and Analytical Studies (1986). His book German Modernism: Music and the Arts (2005) investigates the relationships between music and its cultural context in Austria and Germany during the period 1880-1915.
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.
Location: NOTE CHANGE: this event will take place in the Rehearsal Hall on the 7th floor of the National Opera Center, to the left as one enters at reception.

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.
