WSC Presentation: An Analysis of Parsifal

Stacey Richoi, mezzo-soprano – Kundry
Ric Furman, heldentenor – Parsifal
Gustav Andreassen, bass – Gurnemanz
Charles H. Parsons, opera historian, author, reviewer, and authority – Klingsor (spoken), program notes, and lecture material
Valerie Pool – accompanist

Recorded September 8, 2013, at the home of Rev. George and Amy Hill in Montgomery, Ohio.

“Wagner’s Ring Cycle” Panel Discussion, March 2012

On March 11, 2012, the Wagner Society of Cincinnati hosted a “Wagner’s Ring Cycle” discussion featuring a panel of experts: opera historian, reviewer, and respected authority, Charles Parsons; Cincinnati Opera’s Director of Artistic Operations, Marcus Küchle; and international opera singer, Gustav Andreassen. Wagner Society of Cincinnati President, Jim Slouffman, moderated.

WSC 2012 Spring Musicale

Once again, Bill and Marion Cooley opened their lovely Wyoming home to WSC for our second Spring Musicale, held yesterday. Soprano Kara Shay Thomson performed “Dich, teure Halle” from Tannhäuser and “Liebestod” from Tristan und Isolde. Bass-baritone Thomas Hammons performed “Bin ich nun frei?” from Das Rheingold and “Miei rampoli femminini” from Il barbiere di Siviglia. Pianist Kara Huber played Mikhail Pletnev’s “Nutcracker Transcription of Tchaikovsky” and Bill Cooley demonstrated his digital organ’s capabilities by entertaining us with his performance. Bravos and bravas abounded!

Bill Cooley Explaining His Digital Organ

Tom Hammons

Kara Shay Thomson

Kara Huber

Jim Slouffman Announcing

Carolann Slouffman Poetry Reading

WSC the newest member of the Richard-Wagner-Verband Internationale (RWVI)

The Wagner Society of Cincinnati (WSC) was approved for membership in the prestigeous Richard-Wagner-Verband Internationale (RWVI) on 3/4/2012.  Professor Eva Maertsen of the RWVI Board informed WSC president via a letter of the good news. The RWVI, headquartered in Bayreuth, Germany, has 133 member societies internationally with over 22,000 individual members. The Wagner Societies were originally formed in 1870s to raise funds for the construction of the Wagner Festspielhaus Theatre to properly produce the Ring Cycle and other mature Wagner Music Dramas.

The societies, with the guidance of the RWVI, currently raise funds for scholarships to further emerging Wagnerian singers and promote the understanding of the music of Richard Wagner through educational activities, symposia, and Wagnerian research and scholarship. The RWVI sponsors an International Conference on the works of Richard Wagner annually in various European cities that is attended by its member organizations.

The 2013 Conference will be held in Leipzg, Germany, the birth place of Richard Wagner. This conference will commemorate the 200th Anniversary of the composer’s birth, and many special activities and performances have been planned. Members of the WSC are planning to attend the conference and various activities in Leipzg in 2013, in honor of the great master, Richard Wagner.

Lohengrin Presentation

Jim Slouffman, President of the Wagner Society of Cincinnati, will be giving a talk on Lohengrin at 2:00pm this Sunday, February 20, at the German Heritage Museum located at 4764 West Fork Road, Cincinnati, Ohio.  Several Wagner Society of Cincinnati members are travelling to Chicago on March 5 for the Lyric Opera of Chicago’s production of Lohengrin, so this presentation will be a wonderful opportunity to learn about the opera and hear a bit of the music.

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