Posted November 10, 2015

Posted November 10, 2015
 
German Idol: Wagner’s Song Contests.
Long before American Idol, there have been song contests. A song contest is central to the plot of two operas by Richard Wagner: Tannhäuser (1845) and Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg (1868). Both operas depict actual historical figures that were the star singers of their day. Tannhäuser is about the Minnesingers, the minstrels of courtly love, who flourished in the late Middle Ages. Die Meistersinger is about the Master Singers, middle class tradesmen who flourished during the Renaissance. We will hear music by these historical figures along with the glorious music of Richard Wagner himself. 
 
Saturday Nov 282-3:30pm
SF Public Library
Presidio Branch
3150 Sacramento St (between Baker and Lyon Streets)
San Francisco, CA