Bayreuth Festival Highlights
2019-09-20 00:00 UTC | NY
Bayreuth Festival Highlights: German Bravo-Casas on Siegfried Wagner’s life and career; John Muller on the new production of Tannhäuser ; Scott Carlton on the anniversary of Wolfgang Wagner’s birth and his years as Director of the Bayreuth Festival.

A View from the Podium: Eve Queler on Conducting Wagner
2019-10-23 00:00 UTC | NY
Eve Queler on Conducting Wagner, with booksigning of her memoir A View from the Podium.

Die Feen at The Glimmerglass Festival
2019-11-13 00:00 UTC | NY
Francesca Zambello and Die Feen, with cast members and production team scheduled for The Glimmerglass Festival.

Honoring Stephen Gould
2019-11-16 00:00 UTC | NY
Reception in honor of Stephen Gould, heldentenor (appearing with NY Philharmonic), with interview.

“Wagner and Brahms: The War of the Romantics.”
2019-12-06 00:00 UTC | Liederkranz Foundation, 6 E 87th St., New York, NY, United States
Saul Lilienstein: “Wagner and Brahms: The War of the Romantics.”
Was it a war? Mr. Lilienstein investigates. He advised that the program will include a great deal of music. He is a frequent lecturer at the Smithsonian Institution, Washington National Opera, and many Wagner societies. He has compiled a detailed comparative chronology which will be available at the program.

Film of Der fliegende Holländer
2020-02-23 00:00 UTC | Dolby Screening Room, 1350 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY, 10019, United States
Film of Der fliegende Holländer, directed by Joachim Herz, with introduction by Hilan Warshaw.

The cinematic rarity Der fliegende Holländer, shot on the Baltic Sea and on movie sets around Berlin (not an opera stage), offering a vivid expressionistic take on Wagner’s opera.

Der fliegende Holländer Seminar
2020-06-29 - 2020-07-01 | NY
40th Annual Seminar
Part 1:
Hans Rudolf Vaget, Prof. Emeritus of German Studies, Smith College, “Der fliegende Holländer: The Jewish Connection: Wagner and Heinrich Heine”
Peter Bloom, Prof. of Humanities, Emeritus, Smith College, “Der fliegende Holländer: The French Connection” – Joe Pearce, President, Vocal Record Collectors Society, “Sentas: Known and Unknown”
Interview with two cast members: Franz-Josef Selig (Daland) and David Portillo (Steersman). Interviewed by F. Peter Phillips.
Part 2:
Victoria Bond, composer, conductor/music director, “Der fliegende Holländer: New Perspectives and Productions”
Jeffrey Swann, Ph.D., Concert Pianist and Professor, NYU, “Wagner Discovers Beethoven: A new understanding, revolutionized in Der fliegende Holländer” – Moderated by F. Peter Phillips
Seminar Part 1:

Seminar Part 2:

U.S. Book Launch of Wagnerism
2020-09-17 | NY
The Wagner Society of New York and Powerhouse Arena book store presented the Official U.S. Launch of Wagnerism: Art and Politics in the Shadow of Music by Alex Ross in Conversation with A.O. Scott on Monday, September 14. WSNY was represented by Scott Carlton, the Society’s Director of Singer’s Programs.
About the Book: Alex Ross, renowned New Yorker music critic and author of the international bestseller and Pulitzer Prize finalist The Rest Is Noise, reveals how Richard Wagner became the proving ground for modern art and politics—an aesthetic war zone where the Western world wrestled with its capacity for beauty and violence.
Alex Ross’s Wagnerism Audiovisual companion is online here.
Watch on YouTube:

Alex Ross and Heath Lees on Wagnerism
2020-11-19 00:00 UTC | NY
A conversation between Alex Ross and Heath Lees about Ross’s acclaimed new 784-page book Wagnerism: Art and Politics in the Shadow of Wagner. They discuss the format of the book and the many aspects of this broad subject that are covered in depth, throughout Europe and in the U.S.
Watch on YouTube:

Masterclass with Stephen Gould
2020-12-11 | NY
Stephen Gould, renowned international Heldentenor, coached three rising tenors, all Society awardees or grantees: Jeremy Brauner, Errin Duane Brooks, and Mauricio Trejo, accompanied by Craig Ketter, in six excerpts from the Wagner repertoire.
Watch on YouTube:

New Year's Concert
2021-01-10 00:00 UTC | NY
Jeffrey Swann, pianist and lecturer: “New Year’s Concert.” Virtual event.
A concert by Jeffrey Swann, internationally renowned pianist, recorded by Matt Berman in Mr. Swann’s home on Jan. 9, 2021 and presented as a Zoom event on Jan. 10. Mr. Swann provided background about each piece, and he created the transcription of the final selection: the “love duet” from Tristan, Act II. F. Peter Phillips, WSNY Secretary, introduced the event.
Watch on YouTube:

The Russian Parsifal?: Rimsky-Korsakov and the Invisible City of Kitezh.
2021-02-28 00:00 UTC | NY
Prof. Harlow Robinson. “The Russian Parsifal?: Rimsky-Korsakov and the Invisible City of Kitezh.” Virtual event.
This talk, with musical and visual examples from both The Invisible City of Kitezh and Parsifal, provides an in depth look into the influence of Wagner’s style on Rimsky-Korsakov and on other Russian composers.
Watch on YouTube:

Rienzi with Eve Queler
2021-04-30 00:00 UTC | NY
Maestro Eve Queler and Rienzi. With solos by Jeremy Brauner and Mary Ann Stewart. Virtual event.
Hosted by Scott Carlton. This program, with photos, clips, and performances of arias from Rienzi by Jeremy Brauner and Mary Ann Stewart, provides a discussion of Wagner’s early opera and its performances by Opera Orchestra of New York under Maestro Eve Queler from 1980 to 2012.
Watch on YouTube:

Recital with soprano Helena Brown
2021-05-16 00:00 UTC | NY
Helena Brown, soprano (WSNY awardee), and Bradley Moore, piano. Live and streamed.

Watch on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=01uLSzZN9Jc

Parsifal and French Symbolism.
2021-06-25 00:00 UTC | NY
Marian Burleigh-Motley, PhD, lecturer. “Parsifal and French Symbolism.” With solos by Amy Shoremount-Obra (WSNY awardee). Virtual event.

Watch on YouTube:

Organ Recital with Patrick Allen
2021-09-26 00:00 UTC | Grace Church, 802 Broadway, New York, NY, United States
Patrick Allen, organ. Recital of organ arrangements of Wagner excerpts.
Program:
Prelude from Tannhäuser
Prelude and Liebestod from Tristan und Isolde
Prelude from Der fliegende Holländer
Finale (Walhall Scene) from Das Rheingold
Patrick Allen has been the organist and master of choristers at Grace Church in New York since 2000. He also
presents the organ meditation series “Bach at Noon” and “Weekend Afternoon” at Grace Church. He has been the
organist for the Chapel of the Good Shepherd at The General Theological Seminary since 2015. Allen has often
performed as a soloist on the organ and harpsichord in the U.S. and Europe and in chamber music programs. He
holds a DMA and The Performers Certificate in Organ from Eastman School of Music. His previous positions
have included organist at Independent Presbyterian Church in Birmingham, AL, and St. Thomas Church, NY; he
has given masterclasses on organ and harpsichord and has served as guest conductor for many concerts. The
organ at Grace Church is the Bicentennial Organ, completed in 2013, a 77 stop, four manual mechanical action
organ built by Taylor and Boody Organbuilders.
The transcriptions that Allen performed were made by Edwin H. Lema

Die Meistersinger Seminar
2021-10-31 12:00 - 16:00 UTC | The Leonard Nimoy Thalia, Peter Norton Symphony Space, 2537 Broadway at W 95th St, New York, NY, 10025, United States
Wagner Society of New York presented its 41st Annual Seminar, Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg. This was our sixth Meistersinger Seminar; previous seminars took place in 1985 (Nathaniel Merrill production, 1959–1985), 1993 (current Schenk/Schneider-Siemssen production), 2001, 2007, and 2014.

12:00 p.m. Introduction: Victoria Bond, Moderator. Composer, Conductor, Lecturer
12:05 – 12:50 Jeffrey Swann, Ph.D., concert pianist and lecturer;
“Dynamic Tension in Meistersinger”
1:00 – 1:50 Victoria Bond: “Inspiration for Wagner’s opera: Lortzing’s Hans Sachs”
2:00 – 2:50 “View from the Pit”: Met Orchestra Musicians
Joe Anderer (Former) Principal Horn
Evan Epifanio Principal Bassoon
Ira Lieberman (Retired) First Violin
Stephanie Mortimore Principal Piccolo
3:00 – 3:50 “Met Cast Roundtable”
Lise Davidsen, soprano (Eva)
Michael Volle, baritone (Hans Sachs)
3:50 – 4:00 Discussion
Program Download

Lise Davidsen & Michael Volle

Jeffrey Swann “Dynamic Tension in Meistersinger”

Maestro Pappano on Meistersinger
2021-11-08 14:30 - 16:00 UTC | National Opera Center, 330 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY, 10001, United States
Sir Antonio Pappano, conductor of Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg at the Met and Music director of the Royal Opera House, was interviewed by Fred Cohn at this exclusive WSNY event, which took place live at the National Opera Center in New York City.

Donald Palumbo: Wagner and the Met Chorus
2021-12-13 19:30 - 21:00 UTC | Holy Trinity Church, 213 West 82nd Street, New York, NY, 10024, United States
Renowned Met Chorus Master Donald Palumbo, who directed 200 chorus members in the Metropolitan Opera’s recent revival of Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg, gave a talk to the WSNY community. The interview was hosted by Susan Brodie (reviewer, Classical Voice North America).

Recital with Jeffrey Swann, pianist
2022-01-30 15:00 - 16:00 UTC | Klavierhaus, 790 11th Ave., New York, NY, 10019, United States
Jeffrey Swann is a renowned international recitalist. Also a Wagner scholar, he has given many lectures with piano illustrations and often gives talks at WSNY’s annual seminar. He teaches piano at NYU Steinhardt. He recently presented a Beethoven Sonata Series at Bargemusic in Brooklyn and has recorded the complete Beethoven Sonatas.
Program: Scenes from Götterdämmerung and Franz Schubert: Sonata in B flat major, D.960 (Schubert’s last composition, 40 min.)

From Richard I to Richard III: Wagner, Strauss and Questions of Influence
2022-03-06 15:00 - 16:00 UTC | Klavierhaus, 790 11th Ave., New York, NY, 10019, United States
Prof. Muller’s lecture, with musical and visual illustrations, highlighted the Met’s upcoming Strauss operas: Ariadne auf Naxos (March 1–17, 2022) and Elektra (April 1–20, 2022). A Juilliard professor since 1980, Prof. Muller also lectures for other organizations and he presented WSNY’s Bayreuth lectures from 2010–2019.
From Richard I to Richard III: it’s not a typo! Prof. Muller states: “There is no Richard II, that’s the point. There had to be an interregnum after Wagner. This idea goes back to Hans von Bülow, who made the remark about Richard I and III.”
Supplementary materials:
Click here for the List of Strauss Operas
Click here for the Wagner-Strauss Orchestral Comparison

Talk with Stefan Vinke
2022-04-18 17:00 - 18:00 UTC | 3 West Club, 3 W51st. St., New York, 10019, United States
Interview with Stefan Vinke, heldentenor, Aegisth in Elektra and Siegfried in the 2019 Met Ring, guest of honor on the Ring cruise.
Interview Host: Fred Cohn.
Watch on YouTube:

A Tribute to Hans Neuenfels
2022-05-15 15:00 - 16:15 UTC | NY
Hans Neuenfels (1914-2022): director of the Bayreuth 2010-1015 (“rats”) Lohengrin. Commentary by colleagues, with illustrations and excerpts from his memoirs. Moderator: Scott Carlton (member of Bayreuth chorus for Neuenfels’ Lohengrin.)

Watch on YouTube:

Wagner Masterclass
2022-09-13 18:30 - 2022-09-30 21:00 UTC | NY
An Evening of Wagner Duets and Trios in a Masterclass with Carole Farley and Scott Carlton, with collaborative pianist Craig Ketter, presented by New York Chamber Music Festival, in collaboration with WSNY. The program included Wagner Duets and Trios from Tristan und Isolde, Der Fliegende Holländer, Lohengrin and Die Walküre. Ms. Farley and Mr. Carlton worked on points of dramatic interpretation, diction and style, with:

Roseanne Ackerley, soprano (see www.roseanneackerley.com/)
Alison Bolshoi, mezzo (see www.alisonbolshoi.com)
Jeremy Brauner, tenor* (see www.jeremybrauner.com)
Errin Duane Brooks, Tenor* (see www.newamsterdamopera.org/errin-brooks-jean)
Leah Crowne, soprano* (see www.randsman.com/leah-crowne)
Chantelle Grant, mezzo (see www.chantellegrant.com)
Mary-Hollis Hundley, soprano* (see www.maryhollishundley.com)
Michael Nansel, bass-baritone (see www.michaelnansel.com)
Andrew Richardson, bass-baritone* (see www.newamsterdamopera.org/adam-cioffari-bethune)
Elisabeth Rosenberg, soprano* (see www.elisabethrosenberg.com/)
Daniel Sutin, bass-baritone (see www.danielsutin.com)
Susan Wheeler, soprano* (see www.susanwheeler.info)
Amanda Zory, soprano* (www.amandazory.com)

* Wagner Society of New York Singers Award/Grant Recipient.

Joseph W. Polisi: “Beacon to the World: A History of Lincoln Center”
2022-10-11 18:30 - 20:30 (America/New_York) | 3 West Club, 3 W51st. St., New York, 10019, United States
Description:
In a special presentation and book signing hosted by the Wagner Society of New York, Joseph W. Polisi offered a summary and archival images of the creation and growth of Lincoln Center, drawn from his recent book, Beacon to the World: A History of Lincoln Center. Copies of the book were available for sale and signing at the event. This comprehensive history of Lincoln Center for the Performing Art guides us through the complex convergence of the worlds of politics, finance, and the performing arts throughout the years of
the Center’s history, including roles played by Robert Moses, John D. Rockefeller 3rd, Leonard Bernstein, Alice Tully, Beverly Sills, and many others.
About the speaker: Joseph W. Polisi led The Juilliard School for thirty-four years (1984–2018), the longest presidential term in the history of the school. Upon stepping down from his distinguished tenure in June 2018, he became Chief China Officer, supervising overall development of The Tianjin Juilliard School. Born in New York City, Dr. Polisi is an accomplished bassoonist who has performed as soloist, chamber, and orchestral musician throughout the United States as well as in major New York City venues.

Joseph W. Polisi speaks with te Wagner Society of New York.

Book signing with Joseph W. Polisi.

Reading from "Beacon to the World: A History of Lincoln Center".

Social hour with the Wagner Society members and guests.

Watch on YouTube:

Tenors Clay Hilley and Issachah Savage
2022-12-06 19:00 - 20:30 (America/New_York) | NY
Description:
Wagner Society grantees Clay Hilley and Issachah Savage recently recorded a thrilling interview with Society Singers Program Director Scott Carlton, and was videocast to WSNY members.
For many years, the Society has been honored to support careers of young Wagnerians who have subsequently built major careers. Hilley and Savage are among the most recent and most prominent. Tenor Clay Hilley was then singing Tristan at the Deutsche Oper Berlin. Tenor Issachah Savage had just completed a run of Idomeneo at the Metropolitan Opera. We are thrilled that they agreed to engage in a joint discussion with Scott. These two young artists share meaningful and insightful reflections on their work, their careers and their aspirations.
Watch on YouTube:

Lohengrin Vocal Showcase
2023-02-11 15:00 - 16:30 (America/New_York) | Kaplan Penthouse, 70 Lincoln Center Plz., New York, 10023, United States
In partnership with the Metropolitan Opera Guild, a vocal showcase featuring excerpts from Wagner’s Lohengrin.
Lohengrin is the third opera of Wagner’s middle period, and it continues a style of tonality that the composer had developed earlier in Tannhäuser. Lohengrin’s musical style also anticipates Wagner’s future leitmotif technique and, as with all of his operas and later musikdramas, reflects the bigger-than-life form of grand opera. Join Jane Marsh at the Kaplan Penthouse as she and four soloists explore this thrilling white-knight fairy tale.
Carami Hilaire (WSNY grantee) – Elsa
Amanda Zory (WSNY awardee) – Ortrud
Nicholas Simpson – Lohengrin
Daniel Sutin – Telramund
Craig Ketter – Pianist

Pianist Craig Ketter and vocalists

Wagner's Music in Classic Hollywood Cartoons
2023-02-17 18:30 - 20:30 (America/New_York) | National Opera Center, 330 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY, 10001, United States
Description:
Scholarship met fun in this delightful evening. Prof. Goldmark opened our eyes to the pervasive presence of Richard Wagner in the popular American culture of the mid 20th Century. Profusely illustrated by clips of hilarious cartoons such as the classic What’s Opera, Doc? which is the source of the immortal lines, “Kill the wabbit” and “Oh Bwunhilde you’re so lovely.”
Prof. Daniel Goldmark, Director of Popular Music Studies, Case Western Reserve University. Prof. Daniel Goldmark works on American popular music, film and cartoon music, the history of the music industry, and popular music in Cleveland. He is the author of Tunes for ‘Toons: Music and the Hollywood Cartoon (California, 2005).

Daniel Goldmark presents the characterization of classical music in the golden age of Hollywood cartoons.

2023 Lohengrin Seminar
2023-03-19 00:00 - 16:00 UTC | The Leonard Nimoy Thalia, Peter Norton Symphony Space, 2537 Broadway at W 95th St, New York, NY, 10025, United States
Description:
Our 42nd annual seminar, a half-day deep-dive into the world of Wagner’s Swan Knight. Moderated by composer and conductor Victoria Bond, with a presentation by Dr. Katherine Syer “Wagner’s Lohengrin: Blending Art and Life, On Stage and Off”; an interview with new production director François Girard; a roundtable with the Met cast featuring Günther Groissböck, Brian Mulligan, Piotr Beczała, and Tamara Wilson; a panel discussion with Met Orchestra Members Musicians Jason Haaheim, Timpani, Principal (The Rosaline Miranda Chair); Jessica Phillips, Clarinet (The Ruth and Harvey R. Miller Charitable Fund Chair); Thomas Lausmann, Director of Music Administration; and William Short, Bassoon, Principal; the program ended with Prof. Jeffrey Swann on “Good and Evil: The Musical Duality of Lohengrin”.

Met Cast Roundtable: Günther Groissböck, Brian Mulligan, Piotr Beczała, Tamara Wilson, interviewed by Victoria Bond

“The extent to which being exposed night after night to the greatest voices in the world influences our playing and our relationship to music” – William Short (bassoon), discussing the difference between symphonic and opera playing. With The Met Orchestra Roundtable: Jason Haaheim, Timpani; Jessica Phillips, Clarinet; Thomas Lausmann, Director of Music Administration; William Short, Bassoon

“Anything we play has a purpose. In Lohengrin, every moment ties into the story telling and ties into what the singers are doing. That to me is incredibly meaningful.” – Thomas Lausmann (Met Opera Director of Music Administration)

“The reason why the Met Orchestra in particular is so incredibly flexible is because we're always listening to that voice; there's something about the breath and the tone quality, especially with Wagnerian voices, that we're trying to follow. There's never a dull moment in opera; there's always something wonderful happening.” – Jessica Phillips (Clarinet)

Baritone Brian Mulligan (Herald)

Soprano Tamara Wilson (Elsa)

Tenor Piotr Beczała (Lohengrin)

Tenor Errin Duane Brooks (Nobleman)

Bass Günther Groissböck (King Heinrich)

Director François Girard discusses his new production of Lohengrin

Jeffrey Swann, NYU Steinhardt – piano faculty, concert pianist and lecturer

Katherine Syer on Lohengrin: Blending Art & Life, Onstage & Off

YouTube Links:

Download Lohengrin Seminar Program

Wagner & German Nationalism with Prof. Michael P. Steinberg
2023-04-17 18:30 - 20:30 UTC | National Opera Center, 330 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY, 10001, United States
Description:
Prof. Michael P. Steinberg of Brown University and co-curator of the recent exhibit in Berlin’s German Historical Museum explained the influence of Wagner on German nationalism in the mid-19th century and its lasting impact on German self-identity. As Prof. Steinberg explained to The New York Times, “You can’t have a naïve and beautiful production of a Wagner opera in Germany. It’s impossible.” The presentation took place at the National Opera Center in New York City, followed by a social hour with refreshments.

“In Germany... every production of Wagner has to take the history of Wagner, the political history of Wagner, the history of German taste into account. There is no way to be innocent about Wagner in Germany.” – Prof. Michael P. Steinberg (Brown University)

Members & guests socialize after the presentation

F. Peter Philips welcomes members and guests to the evening’s presentation

Members & guests socialize after the presentation

Members & guests socialize after the presentation

YouTube Link:
