Honoring Wolfgang Wagner’s Life’s Achievement, August 26, 2008

Elbow on elbow, past and present, together we were gathered to honor Wolfgang Wagner and his life’s work.  Bayreuth singers, conductors, musicians who had ever performed in Bayreuth were invited to be a part of this historic event.  Uniting us all was not only the desire to serve art “idealistically” in Bayreuth, but also being a part of the “Family”.  Wolfgang Wagner, fatherly, took pride in wanting us to feel a part of the Bayreuth family.  We were to put aside thoughts of financial riches and our own personal glories.  This, most all of us did willingly.  Bayreuth was a great experience.  The ultimate workshop.

We showed our invitations at the gate and were then allowed to enter the secured rehearsal stage, where the event took place.  Right in back of me was Bernd Weikl, with whom I had sung a number of times the role of Salome (he was Jochanaan, of course) at the Vienna State Opera.  We had also sung Britten’s War Requiem together in the Bonn Beethoven Halle, as well as being in Bayreuth at the same time.

I talked shortly with Christian Thielemann, under whose baton I had sung Venus in Tannhäuser at the Nürnberg Opera.  At the celebration, he conducted an excerpt from Meistersinger.

Wolfgang Wagner was honored with a superb speech, expounding his personal, professional and artistic qualities:  his life’s achievements.  Here with Eva Wagner-Pasquier and Wagner family.

After this long morning, I did attend the Parsival performance.  It was interesting to be on the other side of the stage, looking in from outside.  It was also very nice to be recognized by the audience and give out autogramms!

The high point was still to come:  Maestro Berislav Klobucar was also staying at my hotel and we were able to talk at great length!  Under Maestro Klobucar’s baton, I sang Elektra at the Chicago Lyric Opera, and Dyer’s Wife in Frau ohne Schatten and Elektra at the Stockholm Opera.  What a happy reunion!

I shall never forget this historic event and was honored to be a part of it!

• Author and date: Brenda Roberts (2008-09-07)
• Permalink: Honoring Wolfgang Wagner’s Life’s Achievement, August 26, 2008
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