© Bayreuther Festspiele, Meistersinger 2018

News from the Members

24.07.2017
WS Washington DC - Wagner in der Wildnis
The 17th annual WSWDC Wagner in der Wildnis weekend retreat was held from June 16 to 18, 2017 in Berkeley Springs, West Virginia for 70 participants.
The Wagner Society of Washington DC, now entering our 20th anniversary year, conducts a unique retreat, in the spirit of Wagner's preference for the bucolic Bayreuth over the bustle of Munich. "Wagner in der Wildnis", a weekend retreat completing its 17th iteration, sees 80 members and friends gather in the West Virginia woods for a weekend devoted to the study and enjoyment of one Wagner opera, with the focus this year being on Parsifal.  Lively discussion ensues for the weekend in the meeting and dining rooms and outdoor patio and grounds of the countryside Cacapon Lodge. 

Wildnis is led by two distinguished musicologists. Pianist Jeffrey Swann is renowned for his musicianship, here performing and commenting on Wagner's musical concepts. Professor Simon Williams, author of "Richard Wagner and Festival Theater," (Praeger Press) and "Wagner and the Romantic Hero." (Cambridge University Press) provides commentary on Wagnerian theater.

The Wagner Society of Washington DC has recorded their presentations and we are pleased to share them with the public. Audio files have been placed on our website,www.wagner-dc.org. Go to Resources and click on Wagner Lectures. To date all of the Ring lectures have been archived, plus Lohengrin, Tannhäuser, and Der fliegende Holländer. 

The 18th Annual Wildnis in June 2018 will focus on Tristan and Isolde as the theme.  



17th Annual Wagner in der Wildnis June 2017 viewing of Parsifal DVD on laptop.  Maestro Jeffrey Swann in foreground.  Background (left to right) Dr. Frederic Harwood, Mark Golden, Prof Simon Williams, Lynne Lambert (event moderator), and Francis Rizzo.