A Memory in which Spring can be Recognized: Wagner’s Die Meistersinger

A Memory in which Spring can be Recognized:  Wagner’s Die Meistersinger

Saturday January 7th at 1:00 p.m

JCC-SF

3200 California Street, San Francisco, CA

 

In one hour, Larry Oppenheim will present a guided tour of Richard Wagner’s comic masterpiece, Die Meistersinger. Larry will combine his commentary with extensive video excerpts from the wonderful Glyndebourne production directed by David McVicar. This production features Gerald Finley as Hans Sachs, Marco Jentzsch as Walther von Stolzing, and Johannes Martin Kränzle as Sixtus Beckmesser. Finley creates a Sachs who is younger than most, but wise and deeply human. And Kränlze’s Beckmesser simply exudes comic genius. The lecture will trace the musical leitmotifs and philosophical ideas which are developed throughout the opera.

 

Our speaker is Larry Oppenheim, the lecturer for the San Francisco Library’s popular “Opera for the People” Series. In the series Larry’s goal is to make opera more enjoyable and accessible to everyone – including those who may have never gone to an opera. In addition to being a member of the Wagner Society of Northern California, Oppenheim is the President of the Kensington Symphony (East Bay) and the co-principal oboe and a bassoonist.