Der Ring des Nibelungen: Wagner’s Epic Vision

J. K. Holman, Moderator

Friday, September 19, 2003, in the Ring Auditorium of the Smithsonian’s Hirshhorn Museum

12:30 – 5 p.m. “Overview of The Ring and its Cultural Context” – Lectures by:

• Donald Crosby, Professor Emeritus of German Studies, University of Connecticut, and Society Member
• Iain Scott, Canadian opera lecturer and Ring expert
• Saul Lilienstein, Music professor, conductor and frequent Smithsonian lecturer

6:30 – 8:30 p.m. Buffet and reception hosted by His Excellency, Wolfgang Ischinger,

Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany, at his residence (Foxhall at Reservoir Road)

Saturday, September 20, 2003, in the Ring Auditorium of the Smithsonian’s Hirshhorn Museum

9:30 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. “Wagner’s Creative Process” – Lecturers will include:

• Carolyn Abbate, Professor of Music, Princeton University, author of In Search of Opera, and frequent participant in the Metropolitan Opera Broadcast Opera Quiz

12:15 – 1:45 p.m. Lunch on your own

1:45 – 5:00 p.m. “The Ring in Performance” – Slide and video presentations and lectures, comparing Ring

productions of the Bayreuth Festival, the Metropolitan Opera, and the Seattle Opera

• Speight Jenkins, General Director of the Seattle Opera
• Phillip Raines, Wagner production expert and Society Board member
• Christina Scheppelmann, Artistic Administrator of the Washington Opera, in a joint presentation with Cori Ellison, New York City Opera Dramaturg and Director of Surtitles

Sunday, September 21, 2003, in the Baird Auditorium of the Smithsonian’s Museum of Natural History

1:30 – 2:30 p.m. “Singing The Ring” – Discussion about the performing challenges presented by Wagner

singing:

• Thomas Stewart, world renowned Wagner singer who performed all of the important Wagner baritone roles in 13 seasons at Bayreuth and at other major opera houses

• Tim Page, Music critic of The Washington Post
• A young Wagnerian soprano from the Washington Opera

3:00 to 5 p.m. “The Seventh Evelyn Lear and Thomas Stewart Emerging Singers Concert” – An all-Wagner

concert at which Ms. Lear and Mr. Stewart will present four American singers with potential for careers singing

the Wagner repertoire