President’s Reports 2022

President's Reports 2022

March / Annual Report 2022 / September / December

March 2022

Dear members and friends,

I am writing this shortly after returning from Robert Gay’s wonderful talk on the influence of French Grand Opera on Verdi and Wagner. That was our third event so far in 2022. And it is not even the end of February! We are making up for lost time but also trying to diversify the type of events we present to you. I hope it proves a successful approach. Certainly the attendance numbers for the first three events seem to suggest that we are on the right path.

We also have fresh in our ears and minds the Melbourne Opera’s production of Die Walküre. Those of you who attended in person or saw it streamed, would testify to the outstanding effort of all concerned. But to be parochial, Society member and New South Welshman (via Canberra) Warwick Fyfe took out the honours. There are more views and reviews inside. The great news that followed the Sunday performance was that Melbourne Opera are committed to performing Ring cycles between March and May 2023 in Bendigo at the new Ulumbarra Theatre. That’s the prospect of TWO Rings in Australia in one calendar year. I hope that becomes the norm rather than a rarity.

The programme for Bayreuth 2022 has finally been announced. Now we have dates. However, the order form from the Friends of Bayreuth (to which we subscribe), is expected in March. And we have no indication about an allocation of tickets from the Verband (to which we are affiliated). In the meantime I will resurrect the list of attendees for 2020 as they have priority. After that I will communicate any news as I receive it. Given that there will be a new Ring and that there may still be capacity restrictions in the Festspielhaus, tickets will be difficult to obtain. As the Society would normally receive a limited number of tickets and usually for the third cycle of performances, I recommend to those who really want to attend on specific dates that they try ordering directly through the Bayreuth box office (go on their website). On the other hand one of the advantages of being a member of a Wagner Society is the extensive worldwide network and there is always someone who can’t attend a performance. If you want to get to Bayreuth the chances are that tickets will somehow become available.

It is my hope that through 2022 all members continue to demonstrate their support for the aims of the Society by renewing their subscriptions, attending our events and donating generously. My heartfelt thanks to all those that have donated to our various projects in the last few difficult years. Welcome to new members! And spread the word, we would like more music lovers to join us.

On philanthropy: the Jane Mathews AO Scholarship, partnering with Pacific Opera, is now the focus of our donation drive. Please consider giving as we seek to consolidate and grow our relationship with Pacific Opera. Our two organisations share much in common, not least the support of young singers and opportunities for them to perform. Of course the WSNSW will continue to run its project supporting young artists and creatives, as we have for 40 years, where we can and with as much as we can afford.

The Melbourne Opera Ring cycles are a little over a year away, and I believe the Society needs to discuss how we can continue our relationship with this bold venture through 2022 leading to the Ring Festival in 2023. We have completed the Wagner Tuba project, what is next? There are many prospects and opportunities, particularly as there will be a side programme of events between performances, turning Bendigo into a Festival town – perhaps the Bayreuth of the south, with a touch and scale of Aldeburgh or Glyndebourne. As Wagnerians how can we not get involved!

It has been good to have two live events in a row at the start of this year. But it is quite busy for the Committee on the day with so many tasks to be undertaken. So, my thanks to the Committee for accomplishing what looks like a seamless routine so that everyone gets the maximum enjoyment from the event. And in that busyness I often forget on the day to thank the catering, the many wonderful donations of plates of food that appear as if by magic and those who set it all out and make it look very appetising. These selfless acts are an essential component towards the success of live events. So, thank you, and keep doing it. And if anyone wants to contribute or help, please make yourself known.

To end, I would like to note the passing of Australian composer Nigel Butterley, who has made a tremendous contribution to music in this country. And finally, I would like to send special best wishes and love from all members to our Immediate Past President Colleen Chesterman.

Esteban Insausti

President, Wagner Society in NSW Inc

Annual Report 2022, presented at the AGM held at 1.00pm on Sunday 21 May 2023

Welcome to the 43rd Annual General Meeting of the Wagner Society in NSW Inc. I would like to thank Robert Mitchell for generously hosting this at Ampico Towers. And I also thank all those who have contributed to the catering today and through 2022.

I will now comment and summarise aspects of our Society’s activities for the year 2022. I will limit my commentary to 2022 to align with our financial reporting period. This also makes it easier to report to the RWVI, something that we are obliged to do annually.

MEMBERSHIP

Our membership currently sits at 228 members. 34 members remain unfinancial. So, expect a reminder shortly to renew as we would very much like you to stay a member. The membership grew slightly from the previous year and it is expected that we may grow some more given all the Wagner that is programmed through 2023.

FINANCIALS

We continue to hold a reasonable balance and I’ll let Margaret Whealy our Treasurer say more about that when she presents her report.

SUPPORT AND DONATIONS

I report that the Society continues to support young artists. In 2022 we assisted Samuel Sakker, Margaret Plummer, Adrian Tamburini, Nathan Bryon, Michelle Ryan and Chris Curcuruto. Some of us had the opportunity to see and hear Adrian in performance, in various roles, during the Bendigo Ring, to great acclaim. Also, Samuel Sakker has had great success in France with his Tristan. We are very proud of all our artists and our small part in getting them there. The WSNSW will continue our commitment to a $5,000 annual Scholarship with Pacific Opera named for our late President the Honourable Jane Mathews OA. I’d like to thank Ian Hutchinson, the Chairman of Pacific Opera and member of our Society, for suggesting this and for kick starting the donations towards it. We look forward to hearing Ellen

McNeil, the inaugural recipient, and Olivia Swain, the second recipient, in a concert later this afternoon.

To see these young artists develop into great performers is just one incentive to give generously to our various philanthropic projects. I hope you all continue to be generous in 2023.

EVENTS AND COMMUNICATIONS

In 2022 we organised 15 events. We had 3 Zoom events, with the producers of the Marjorie Lawrence documentary, Wayne Groom and Carolyn Bilsborow, as well as Christopher Cook and Erica Miner. We had 4 Talks, including Ralph Myers, Peter Bassett and Robert Gay. We showed “Siegfried”, Part 1 of the “Die Nibelungen” a silent film by the legendary Fritz Lang. Leona Geeves organised 5 concerts with the following artists: Rebecca MacCallion, Bronwyn Douglass, Bradley Kunda, Brad Cooper, Jane Ede, Valda Wilson, Nathan Bryon, Daniel Macey, Jessica Harper and Joseph Eisinger, all mainly accompanied by the incomparable Bradley Gilchrist. And on top of all that we had a Masterclass led by Christina Henson Hayes taking seven singers through their paces. This was the busiest year of events in memory for a couple of reasons. First to blow off the cobwebs after 2 years of lockdowns, cancellations and limited attendances. Secondly to say that the WSNSW was back into live events, which is why we all join the Society, to meet other liked- minded music lovers in enjoying music and talking about music.

Another component of our events is the extension of the Wagner network in Australia and beyond. We started sharing our zoom events specially with our sibling Societies in Victoria, South Australia, Queensland and Western Australia as well as New Zealand. This together with conscious effort to meet at Wagner performances helps cement our friendships as well as that network that can assist in things like procuring and exchanging tickets. This is why the WSNSW continues to be part of the international Wagner network by continuing our membership of the RWIV and the Freunde von Bayreuth. I had the pleasure of meeting with Rainer Fineske, the President of the RWVI, in Berlin whilst there for the Staatsoper Ring. It is important to meet face to face to better exchange ideas and reinforce the connections.

BAYREUTH AND WAGNER PERFORMANCES

2022 saw many of our members travelling overseas again. There were sizeable contingents attending the Wagner Festival of all the operas in Leipzig as well as the Bayreuth Festival and later the new Ring in Berlin. We had a brief “debrief ” at the Christmas Party but given the number of people that attended these key events, mainly signalling a normalisation of performances internationally after 2020-21, we must organise a proper debrief in 2023, which will include the Bendigo Ring.

Whilst in Bayreuth, Ross Whitelaw and myself, met with the President of the Singapore Society. We now have extended our Australasian network to include Singapore (in the same time zone as Perth Western Australia) for future zoom events. These connections and friendships have been reaffirmed at the Bendigo Ring and, hopefully, later this year when Das Rheingold is performed in Singapore in July.

seven singers through their paces. This was the busiest year of events in memory for a couple of reasons. First to blow off the cobwebs after 2 years of lockdowns, cancellations and limited attendances. Secondly to say that the WSNSW was back into live events, which is why we all join the Society, to meet other liked- minded music lovers in enjoying music and talking about music.

HONORARY LIFE MEMBER

Every now and then we look to elevate one of our members to Honorary Life Membership as a modest gesture of thanks and gratitude for a significant contribution. In the case of Barbara Brady, membership number 380, the contribution is vast and long ranging. She has served on the Committee, edited the Wagner Newsletter (now the Quarterly), presented talks to the society on her favourite subject of the early works of Wagner, and was the legendary supplier of Wagner birthday cakes for many years. In 2008 Barbara compiled a 10 part radio series called “Wagner and Friends” which went to air on 2MBS-FM. Leona Geeves, amongst others, are trying to locate it for a rerun in the Station’s 50th year. And on top of that Barbara has been a consistent and ridiculously generous donor to the Society. So, Barbara, in gratitude for your work, time and generosity we have the honour of elevating you to Honorary Life Membership of the Wagner Society in NSW. Please join me in acclamation.

BAYREUTH AND WAGNER PERFORMANCES

THE COMMITTEE

Thank you for your wonderful work and support through 2022. We are getting to be a well-oiled machine. But as with
all machines we need constant upgrades and maintenance. We are still looking for help to maintain our important communications (social media and beyond) as well as our archives. I also want to acknowledge the unstinting help of our non-voting members, Leona Geeves with artists, and Lis Bergmann on archives and Social Media. As well as our long serving Public Officer Alasdair Beck, who will be back for 2023.

Our ambitions are always to improve what we have, so more help, feedback, and your ideas, are always welcomed.

With that I conclude my report and commend it to the membership.

Esteban Insausti

President
Wagner Society in NSW Inc 21 May 2023

September 2022

Dear members and friends,

It seems from the activity in the last quarter that we are almost back to normal. Almost, but not quite. Concerts, opera and theatre seasons are well under way with masks for attendees. The Sydney Opera House Concert Hall has finally been unveiled with an opening season of concerts by the SSO under new Chief Conductor, and our Patron, Simone Young – all sounding world class, something that can now be said with confidence. The sound of the hall was further confirmed by a fantastic concert of Richard Strauss by the AWO under Zubin Mehta. The WSNSW showed the documentary on Marjorie Lawrence “The World at her Feet” in June and hosted a recital in July, with a last-minute cast change as a reminder that Covid is still causing havoc amongst us (read Leona’s report inside). Coming up in mid-September, Robert Gay concludes his talk about French Grand Opera and its influence on the terrible twins of 1813, Verdi and Wagner. And on the subject of twins,

a rather clunky segue for those that have been reading about the new Bayreuth “Ring” from Valentin Schwarz, many of our members are travelling overseas again after nearly three years. There was Leipzig 22 where all 13 Wagner operas were performed in order (see reports and photos inside). And I’ve just returned from the Bayreuth Festival, where several of our members attended, together with colleagues from Victoria, South Australia, Western Australia and our new Indo-Pacific friend, Singapore. I believe reports on Bayreuth will be made in the next instalment of the Quarterly, although there are a few teasers in this issue.

This issue is dedicated to “Siegfried” which is about to be presented by Melbourne Opera in late September, conducted by Maestro Anthony Negus with the participation of our own Warwick Fyfe, singing his first Wanderer, Deborah Humble as Erda, and Brad Daley as the “hero” himself. If I include the Stuttgart “Siegfried” I will see on the way to the Berlin Staatsoper “Ring”, that will make four “Siegfrieds” in a calendar year. I think that is a record for me. You can never have enough Wagner.

On a rather sad note, our Membership Secretary Lis Bergmann, has resigned as she needs to step back her time commitment. I am personally devastated by this as Lis has singlehandedly improved our archives now available on the website (including a complete set of Quarterlies), as well as taken the e-news to a very high level of information, amongst a host of other “projects” and innovations that have carried us through the pandemic and lockdowns. Whilst Lis will continue to contribute to the WSNSW we nevertheless require some committed hands to take charge of the e-news so that we can continue communicating with our membership in between Quarterlies. So, I am asking for help from the membership and beyond: interested persons or volunteers? But in the meantime, a huge THANK YOU to Lis for a wonderful contribution to the WSNSW at a time when we really needed it.

Given all the travels and productions we have enjoyed, or not, through this year (and some still to come), we are reintroducing the session where our members tell us all what they have seen and heard, liked or disliked. This will take place during our end of year (Christmas) event, with much food, drink, prizes and book/CD/DVD sales. So, if you want to partake in a mini presentation (nothing formal, just honest thoughts and impressions) please let me know so that I can compile a list of participants and order. I particularly encourage members who have seen works or been to either Leipzig, Bayreuth or Berlin, for the first time to tell us what it was like.

Stay safe and happy listening.

Esteban Insausti

President, Wagner Society in NSW Inc

December 2022

Dear members and friends,

As we approach the end of 2022 it is a good time to reflect on what has past and look forward to what’s to come. This was the first year since 2020 when we were allowed to travel overseas. Some of us took advantage of this to partake of some much-needed Wagner, both interstate and overseas.

Melbourne was where it was all happening. We had a wonderful Melbourne Opera Die Walküre under Anthony Negus followed a few months later by OA’s Lohengrin with Jonas Kaufmann. For the hardcore, there was Catherine Foster’s Australian debut in Elektra – if you missed that you missed something special. Only a few weeks later a concert version of Siegfried, again under Negus, getting the company battle-ready for Bendigo. On overseas travels many members made their way to Leipzig for Wagner 22, Bayreuth for the first full Festival since Covid which included a new Ring, and to Berlin for the Staatsoper’s new production of the Ring. There are reports on all these in the following pages.

The WSNSW delivered 14 events during the year which included 2 films, 3 Zoom talks, 5 lectures and 4 spectacular concerts and recitals. Many thanks to Michael Day for sourcing many of the speakers and films, Ross Whitelaw for sponsoring Christopher Cook’s zoom and Leona Geeves for arranging and curating all of the singers and pianists. Despite technical issues I was very happy to have hosted Ralph Myers as part of a continuing series on scenography – it was an insightful and honest afternoon. In 2023 the event focus will be on the Ring, for obvious reasons. We will have two different productions in Australia in the one calendar year – something that may never happen again. We are arranging briefings on the Bendigo Ring and later in the year for Brisbane to supplement the wonderful series to be delivered by Peter Bassett in Queensland through the cycles. And to make things even more difficult there will be a concert performance of Tannhäuser in Melbourne by OA, and two Das Rheingolds, one in Singapore and two concert performances in Sydney with the SSO under our Patron Simone Young. I would also comment that members try Philip Glass’ Satyagraha a week before the Tannhäuser. Glass still polarises but I think he is one of the important innovators of opera together with Monteverdi, Gluck and Wagner.

Sad news of the passing of long-term member and generous supporter, Ian Brady (380). Our condolences to Barbara at
this difficult time. In other news, some of you may have seen Committee member June Donsworth dancing on the ABC. And congratulations to Leona Geeves for receiving a Senior Achievement Award for her incredible work with young singers.

At this year’s Christmas/End of Year event, hosted by Robert Mitchell, we had a wonderful set of donated tickets from the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, the Sydney Philharmonia, the Festival of Sydney, Bach Akademie Australia, Willoughby Symphony Orchestra and the Ku-ring-gai Philharmonic Orchestra. On behalf of the WSNSW I would like to acknowledge their support and friendship with heartfelt thanks. We hope to develop closer relationships with these institutions just as we have with Pacific Opera and Melbourne Opera.

Whilst on the subject of thanks, I would like to thank all our members for your continued engagement and support. Attendance at our events increased through the year which bodes well for 2023. A big thank you to the WSNSW Committee for your commitment and energy through the many things we do to keep our Society as one of the most active in the world. As a volunteer not for profit outfit I think we are doing very well. But as always we could do with more help – hint hint to any members out there that can help us with IT, communications or simply organising our wonderful catering, setting up, cleaning up. As Wagnerians we are always looking to set the bar higher.

That leaves me to say enjoy this last issue of the Quarterly for 2022 (thank you Mike). The Quarterly will be back in 2023 just as informative and sometimes cheeky in what will be a very big Wagner year. On behalf of the committee, I wish everyone a great end of the year and a wonderful new year full of music.

Stay safe and happy listening.

Esteban Insausti

President,
Wagner Society in NSW Inc

PS Being the Festive Season if you are thinking donations please consider us. We have a number of ongoing projects that would welcome your donations: the Jane Mathews AO Scholarship with Pacific Opera and ongoing support for young artists being two. I also have some Wagner Tuba pins left that are seeking new homes – the Melbourne Opera Ring project always welcomes our help. Tidings of comfort and joy!