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Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Thematic Transformation (aka Leitmotifs) with Maestro Leo Eylar

Jewish Community Center - San Francisco 3200 California Street, San Francisco, CA, United States

HERE IS THE LINK TO THE ARCHIVAL VIDEO OF THIS PROGRAM: https://youtu.be/_epM6lu9Lxw Maestro Leo Eylar takes us on a journey exploring Wagner's use of Leitmotifs focusing on the Ring. He… Continue reading Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Thematic Transformation (aka Leitmotifs) with Maestro Leo Eylar

Soft Valkyrie with David Kanaga

Jewish Community Center - San Francisco 3200 California Street, San Francisco, CA, United States

HERE IS THE LINK TO THE ARCHIVAL VIDEO OF THIS PROGRAM: https://youtu.be/fG_AiOQZYjE HERE IS A LINK TO THE FULL FILM SOFT VALKYRIE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h-Q_3bcdu8g&t=3553s Writing to Brahms in 1875, Wagner described the Ring’s music as forming the invisible scenery of an imaginary stage:  “On occasion the charge has been made against me that my musical things were stage decorations:… Continue reading Soft Valkyrie with David Kanaga

The Lover’s Bane: The story of Tristan and Yseult as told in Medieval Art and Literature – a Zoom Presentation with Desiree Mays

"The potion drunk, the lovers exposed - they will yearn for each other for the rest of their days...." Live on Zoom, Desirée Mays will introduce a video performance of "The Lover's Bane: The Story of Tristan and Yseult as told in Medieval Art and Literature" This unique presentation uses as text the 13th century… Continue reading The Lover’s Bane: The story of Tristan and Yseult as told in Medieval Art and Literature – a Zoom Presentation with Desiree Mays

2025 Wagner Birthday Party

Suppenküche 525 Laguna St, (at Hayes), San Francisco, CA, United States

HERE IS A LINK TO THE ARCHIVAL VIDEO OF THIS PRESENTATION: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y-snfkvxiRU Join us for a casual meet-up and dinner at the sehr echt Suppenküche in San Francisco's Hayes Valley… Continue reading 2025 Wagner Birthday Party

Outside/Inside: Sacred Spaces in Parsifal with Prof. Thomas Grey

Jewish Community Center - San Francisco 3200 California Street, San Francisco, CA, United States

HERE IS THE LINK TO AN ARCHIVAL VIDEO OF THIS PRESENTATION: https://youtu.be/KKctjlA29Wo This talk looks at the ways that concepts of “the sacred” (religious, spiritual) in Parsifal are conceived according to a dichotomy of outside and inside spaces, natural and man-made: the “Grail Realm” (a protected natural space) and the Grail Temple (an exclusionary constructed space).  This dichotomy… Continue reading Outside/Inside: Sacred Spaces in Parsifal with Prof. Thomas Grey

2025 Cosima Wagner Holiday Celebration Brunch with Special Guest Star Klaus Florian Vogt

Marines' Memorial Club and Hotel 609 Sutter Street, San Francisco, CA, United States

THIS EVENT IS NOW CLOSED TO  NEW BOOKINGS. Here is our video invitation for this event: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IEGNHYwdfHQ Join us for the 2025 edition of our traditional "Cosima Party" this year… Continue reading 2025 Cosima Wagner Holiday Celebration Brunch with Special Guest Star Klaus Florian Vogt

Upcoming Events

Maestro Leo Eylar Returns
Saturday, March-28-2026 - 01:00 PM

An erudite and engaging speaker, Leo Eylar returns for another fascinating lecture to the Society. His last talk with us covered “thematic transformation” – aka leitmotifs. This lecture will be a continuation and wrap-up on this subject with a focus on the Ring and other Wagner operas. He will then discuss how Wagner revolutionized harmony.… Continue reading Maestro Leo Eylar Returns

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Wagner and Berlioz with Erica Miner
Saturday, April-25-2026 - 01:00 PM

Join us for a Zoom meeting where Erica examines the fascinating relationship between these two 19th-century titans. Wagner openly admired Berlioz and made frequent references to him in his writings. Berlioz, however, was much more reticent about Wagner. They attended each other’s performances, exchanged letters, and met on more than one occasion, but that doesn’t… Continue reading Wagner and Berlioz with Erica Miner

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The TRANSformation of Mime a Zoom talk with Holden Madagame
Saturday, June-06-2026 - 01:00 PM

Holden Madagame recently performed the role of Mime in Das Rheingold and Siegfried with Regents Opera (London, UK) where his performance so impressed Wagner Society President, Andy Rombakis, that he decided to invite Holden to share his experience with us. Holden is an American tenor and University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre, and Dance… Continue reading The TRANSformation of Mime a Zoom talk with Holden Madagame

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Strauss and Wagner with Professor John Muller – a Zoom Meeting
Saturday, June-13-2026 - 01:00 PM

Timed to coincide with San Francisco Opera’s production of Elektra, this talk will examine the influence of Wagner on Richard Strauss and his music. Frequently seen as the successor to Wagner, the two Richards were very different men. Join us for John Muller’s examination of this relationship. John J.H. Muller has been a faculty member… Continue reading Strauss and Wagner with Professor John Muller – a Zoom Meeting

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Das Kaliforniagold: California Wagnerisms 1848-2026 with David Kanaga
Saturday, July-11-2026 - 01:00 PM

California, Gold, and….Wagner have been intertwined for almost two centuries now. David Kanaga will explore this in his fascinating talk. Those who saw his previous presentation to the Society featuring his Soft Walküre know what an engaging speaker he is. David is an award-winning composer and game designer. His interactive musical scores for video games… Continue reading Das Kaliforniagold: California Wagnerisms 1848-2026 with David Kanaga

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