Join your fellow Wagnerians for a festive celebration of Richard’s 211th Birthday! We will gather at the Sunset Brewing Company to toast “the Master” and enjoy a delicious repast while sharing our mutual enthusiasm. Space is limited so book early. Your registration must be received by April 30, 2024. 

HERE IS THE LINK TO THE ARCHIVAL VIDEO OF THIS EVENT: https://youtu.be/j-sc3qjA2rI Maestro Leo Eylar's talk which will combine history, music and politics. Richard Wagner had a troubled relationship with all things French. However, Wagner had a formidable influence on French music, in particular the music of Debussy. Maestro Eylar will explore aspects of Wagner's… Continue reading Wagner’s French Connections by Maestro Leo Eylar, Music Director of the California Youth Symphony

Unfortunately the Zoom broadcast wasn't recorded. We have obtained a video of a very similar talk given by Reverend Cheng for the Wagner Society of New York. We thank The Wagner Society of New York for providing this video file. https://youtu.be/Dd4GGdXpdm8 In honor of Pride Month, Dr. Patrick S. Cheng will give a Zoom talk… Continue reading Queering Wagner with Dr. Patrick S. Cheng

HERE IS THE LINK TO THE ARCHIVAL VIDEO OF THIS PROGRAM: https://youtu.be/b3kgYaRscdU           The focus of the WSNC this fall will be the performances of "Tristan und Isolde" at the San Francisco Opera. Simon Williams will lead-off with a tantalizing talk on Wagner's most revolutionary work and its wide-ranging implications. Well-known to… Continue reading “Tristan und Isolde: Wagner’s Most Subversive Opera?” with Simon Williams

HERE IS THE LINK TO THE ARCHIVAL VIDEO OF THIS PROGRAM: https://youtu.be/Qjlbaw4QqcI             As the premiere of the San Francisco Opera’s eagerly anticipated production of Tristan und Isolde approaches, director Paul Curran will give the Wagner Society a special preview of his staging while sharing insights into this monumental work.… Continue reading Director Paul Curran on Tristan und Isolde

HERE IS THE LINK TO THE ARCHIVAL VIDEO OF THIS PROGRAM: https://vimeo.com/1024466448?share=copy

The Wagner Society is thrilled that world-renowned director and impressaria Francesca Zambello will join us to talk about the design and direction process of how an opera comes together.

HERE IS A LINK TO THE PERFORMANCE OF WAGNER’S WESENDONCK LIEDER THAT WAS FEATURED AT THIS EVENT - https://youtu.be/Qj8m9k3DcB0 Our traditional Wagner-centric Holiday Celebration returns once more to the classic Marines Memorial.  This year, in addition to a festive repast served in the beautiful Crystal Lounge, the program will feature a performance of the Wesendonck… Continue reading Cosima Wagner Holiday Celebration Brunch

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 includes handouts for attendees featuring the motives as well as a CD. An engaging as well as erudite speaker, the talk makes a complex topic easy… Continue reading Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Thematic Transformation (aka Leitmotifs) with Maestro Leo Eylar

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 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

HERE IS A LINK TO THE ARCHIVAL VIDEO OF THIS PRESENTATION: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEOHxGrkIyo When Franz Lachner was conducting Wagner’s Der fliegende Holländer in Munich in 1864, he is famously reported to have… Continue reading Der Fliegende Hollander – After the Storm, a Zoom Talk with Jeffrey Buller

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 so we can toast Richard's 212th birthday together. Dinner will be à la carte and each guest will pay only for what they order. Space… Continue reading 2025 Wagner Birthday Party