Jul 30, 2007
The Bayreuth Festival opened with a
much anticipated production of Die
Meistersinger von Nürnberg directed by Katharina Wagner, daughter of
Wolfgang Wagner. As the
heir apparent to the family business, Katharina's new production
shows that the Festival wants to continue breaking with the
traditions of the past. For...
Jun 15, 2007
Arturo Toscanini was the most
sought-after conductor in the 1930's. He became the first Italian
to conduct at Bayreuth, and
would have continued performing there had the Third Reich not come
to power in Germany. He left Bayreuth in protest and went to the
Salzburg Festival. His
complete recording of Die
Meistersinger...
Mar 9, 2007
Richard Wagner
composed his Symphony in C Major at the age of
nineteen. It is clearly the work of a young man influenced by the
towering figure and musical innovations of Ludwig van
Beethoven. The symphony was given its premiere during the
composer's youth, and then remained dormant for decades until
Wagner himself...