Tom Arthur at 202.364.7141 (press)
Aurelius Fernandez at 301.907.2600
(Society)
WASHINGTON, D.C., January 10, 2002. ----- The Wagner Society of Washington, D.C. will present a free St. Valentine’s Day
lecture by its own illustrious member, the renowned teacher of German
literature, Professor Donald Crosby, on Thursday, February 14th at
7:30 P.M. at the George Washington University, Funger Hall 108.
Donald Crosby notes that Richard Wagner has been called “the
most original genius of the 19th century.” One may agree or disagree with this sweeping evaluation, but in
forming an opinion, Prof. Crosby believes it will be helpful to review Wagner’s
indebtedness to the rich cultural history to which he was heir. Wagner’s choice of German medieval themes: Lohengrin, Tannhäuser, Tristan und
Isolde and Parsifal; plus his choice of Germanic (rather than Greek)
mythology as the basis for his Ring des Nibelungen , would seem to
indicate that the composer was respectfully aware of his place in a cultural
tradition dating back to the twelfth century.
Textual and musical examples will be offered to help reinforce this
argument.
Since retiring in 1990 from the University of Connecticut
where he was a professor of German Studies and Comparative Literature, Donald
Crosby has kept busy building a “second career” in the Washington, D.C.
area. Until recently vice-president of
the American Goethe Society, he has lectured extensively on a wide range of
literary and musical topics at the German and Swiss embassies, at the
Washington Opera, and at Smithsonian Institution seminars. In addition, Prof. Crosby has taught
full-length courses in comparative mythology, “pop” mythology (“From Siegfried
to Star Wars”) and Goethe’s Faust at John Hopkins and the Smithsonian
Campus on the Mall. A native New
Yorker, Donald Crosby studied English literature at City University of New York, German
Literature at Princeton, theater history at the University of Munich, and music
history at Indiana University. He is
author of many exceptional academic articles, and his verse translation of
Wagner’s Der Fliegender Holländer has been performed at several regional
opera houses in this country. In
January of 1998, Donald Crosby was the speaker at the inaugural meeting of the
Wagner Society of Washington, D.C.
The Wagner Society of Washington, D.C. is a private, non-profit
organization for the study and enjoyment of Wagner’s art. Its series of 2002 monthly programs is
continuing with Prof. Crosby’s February lecture and will continue after that
with a variety of programs through June.
Most programs are free to the public.
Membership forms are obtainable at www.wagner-dc.org.
The
Wagner Society of Washington, D.C. · P.O. Box 33051 ·
Washington, D. C. 20033
Telephone
301.907.2600 · Facsimile 301.907.8671
www.wagner-dc.org