About the Society
Our members are lovers of the music and operas of Richard Wagner, and also support Wagnerian productions in Australia and emerging Wagnerian performers from NSW.
Society in-person events are held most months at 2.00pm usually on a Sunday and normally at the Goethe Institut, 90 Ocean Street, Woollahra. The Society now also holds online events via zoom.
In-person events include presentations by Wagner singers, conductors and directors of Wagner operas; concerts by Wagner singers and artists supported by the Society; seminars on topics relating to Wagner’s music and current productions of Wagner operas; celebration of Wagner’s birthday; and a Christmas concert and party. In addition, DVDs of Wagner operas or related areas are often shown before the meeting (but not before recitals or concerts).
Patron: Maestro Simone Young AM
President: Esteban Insausti
The Society’s aims
– to promote the music of Richard Wagner and his contemporaries
– to encourage a wider understanding of their work
– to support Wagnerian productions in Australia and emerging Wagnerian performers from NSW:
The Society’s history
There were discussions in Bayreuth and London by several people interested in having a Wagner Society in Sydney – to support the wider education of artists and audiences regarding Wagner’s works with possibly the opportunity to collectively apply for tickets to performances in Bayreuth. The Foundation meeting attended by 15 people was held at the Print Room Gallery, Woolloomooloo on 26 October 1980. At this meeting an interim committee was formed to report back and the Society’s Swan Lines logo was designed by Michel Arnould.
By early 1981, the Wagner Society of NSW had been established as an unincorporated association. Its first public function, a film evening showing documentaries on Bayreuth and the Ring centenary, was held in March. Its first Annual General Meeting, at which the interim committee stepped down, a new committee was elected and the Constitution was adopted, was held at the Concordia Club, Stanmore on 22 May. Dr Leonard Hansen became the Society’s first President and Sir Charles Mackerras its first Patron. Founding Members were each presented with a book “The Wagner Family Albums” and Wagner’s birthday was celebrated after the meeting, with German food and wine.
The Society was established as an incorporated association on 15 December 1986 (with alteration of the original Objects and Rules accepted on 31 August 1987). New Rules were adopted in 2005 and the original logo for the Society was replaced by the current one in 2013.
Patrons
– Sir Charles Mackerras
– Simone Young AM (2011 – Present)
Presidents
– Dr Leonard Hansen
– Richard King
– Olive Coonan
– Ramon Josey
– Paul Lehman
– Barbara McNulty
– Roger Cruickshank
– The Hon Jane Mathews AO
– Dr Colleen Chesterman
– Esteban Insausti (August 2020 – Present)
Committee
Elected at the 2025 AGM
– President: Esteban Insausti
– Immediate Past President: the late Dr Colleen Chesterman
– 2 Vice Presidents: Mike Day and Dr Marie Leech
– Honorary Secretary: Ross Whitelaw
– Honorary Treasurer: Danny May
– 3 Committee Members: Dr June Donsworth, Dr Robert Mitchell and Melanie Penicka-Smith
– Quarterly Editor: Mike Day
– Membership Secretary – vacant
– Technical Consultant – vacant
– Artists’ Liaison*: Leona Geeves
– Webmaster*: Lis Bergmann
– Public Officer*: Alasdair Beck
* These roles, whilst critical to the operation of the Society and their counsel valued, have no voting rights at Committee Meetings. These roles are not
subject to election
Honorary Life Members
– Werner Baer MBE (d. 1992)
– Lis Bergmann
– Barbara Brady
– Dr Colleen Chesterman (d. 2023)
– Roger Cruickshank
– Professor Michael Ewans
– Joseph Ferfoglia (d. 2013)
– Leona Geeves
– Leonard Hansen (d. 1990)
– Rita Hunter CBE (d. 2001)
– Horst Hoffmann
– Richard King (d. 2025)
– Dr Dennis Mather
– The Hon Jane Mathews AO (d. 2019)
– Reg Maloney (d. 2001)
– Barbara McNulty (d. 2020)
– Leonie Rysanek (d. 1998)
– Dr Terence Watson
– John Wegner AO (d. 2019)
– Margaret Whealy