Discussion Group on Wagner Opera Performances
in the Washington, DC Area
There is a Yahoo E-mail discussion group focused on performances of Richard Wagner's operas. All are welcome to join this group. Even though the focus is on performances of Wagner’s music in the Washington, DC area, other opera-related topics are permitted if they are of general enough interest (for example, Wagnerian and other opera singers, Bayreuth Festival, or the Seattle Ring). The list is not moderated and the only rule is that everyone respects each other.
See this site for instructions on how to participate.
Wagner Opera Performances in the Washington DC Area -- now past events
March 25, 30, April 2(m), 5, 8, 10, and 14, 2006
Washington National Opera: Das Rheingold at the Kennedy Center Opera House.
Monday, March 20, 2006 the Goethe-Institut
The Goethe-Institut hosted a screening of Harald Reinl's 1966 remake of Fritz Lang's "Siegfried" (Part 1 of Die Nibelungen - 1924). Reinl's remake is rarely shown and according to Amazon.com, is not currently commercially available. The film retells most of the Nibelungenlied as presented by Fritz Lang in his 1924 film. Reinl's film has sound and beautifully done cinematography. However, the acting is not very good and the actors are lip-synching. The film quickly rushes over the plot of "Siegfried," leaving out some of the important elements and emotional color found in Lang's silent film.
Reinl added the following three elements from Wagner's Ring that are not found in the Lang film: 1. Upon drinking the dragon's blood, we see an image of birds in a tree talking to Siegfried telling him to bathe in the dragon's blood (Lang's film only implies this - it is never actually seen as it is here); 2. Siegfried passes through a wall of fire to waken the sleeping Brünnhilde; 3. Before the "test" in which Brünnhilde's suiter must compete with her in 3 athletic feats in order to win her hand, she is seen furiously riding across the Icelandic tundra on a horse and the melody in the background is reminiscent of Ride of the Valkyries (it isn't but the composer did a good job of suggesting it with a variation on the theme).
For more information on Harald Reinl's remake, see the Internet Movie Database.
Monday, March 6 - Monday, March 27, 2006
Nibelung films at the Goethe-Institut.
In connection with the Washington National Opera's new Ring cycle and the opening of Das Rheingold, the Goethe-Institut presents two film versions that recount the stories of Siegfried the hero as told in the 13th Century Nibelungenlied -- one of the sources Wagner used for his Ring tetrology. Location: 812 7th St., NW; Washington DC. Tickets can be purchased before the screenings, or during office hours, or: on-line.
February 21 and 26, 2006
Kirov Opera: Parsifal at the Kennedy Center Opera House.
January 12, 13, and 14, 2006
National Symphony Orchestra: Wagner & Mozart at the Kennedy Center Concert Hall.
October 14, 2005
The 11th Evelyn Lear and Thomas Stewart Emerging Singers Concert.If any readers are interested in trying to get a block of tickets for seating together, joining a backstage tour, or attending other events in conjunction with these performances, please contact us at the phone number below.
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Copyright by WagnerOpedia, all rights reserved. May 21, 2005
Last update: 2007-07-12 22:26edt