Return to the Wagner Society homepages

 

The Wagner Society

REGISTERED CHARITY 266383

FOUNDED 1953

President: Dame Gwyneth Jones DBE, Kammersängerin

Vice President: Sir John Tomlinson CBE

Chairman: Jeremy D Rowe B.Ed.

_____________________________

Society events

________________________________________________

 

DomingoWeb~1.jpg (55202 bytes)   WagnerEaglenXmas05~11.jpg (30156 bytes)    SueBullockEvents.jpg (28179 bytes)

Portillo~1b.jpg (80992 bytes)          

BWevent4.jpg (18289 bytes)                          AMANDA6-3.jpg (17035 bytes)

               

   

 

Click on any of the above images to go to our Images page

*************************************************************************************

 

Sunday 5th February 2012

 

The Highgate Film Society

in association with

The Wagner Society

present

WAGNER

Tony Palmer’s restored 1983 film in Hi-Definition

cast includes

Richard Burton, Vanessa Redgrave, John Gielgud, Ralph Richardson,

Laurence Olivier, Gemma Craven, Gwyneth Jones, Peter Hofmann

Conductor: Georg Solti

SOLD OUT!

Please click on the hyper link text below to view further event information.

WAGNER FILM EVENT

 

****************************************************************************

Tuesday 20th March 2010

The Ring in Bayreuth and Beyond

A talk by Hans Rudolf Vaget: "The Ring in Bayreuth and Beyond". This talk will explore how performances of the Ring spread so quickly round the world after the first performance in Bayreuth, and how the Ring arrived in New York. Hans Rudolf Vaget is Professor of German Studies at Smith College, Northampton.

Wine at 7.00pm, talk at 7.30pm; tickets £12.00

Portland Place School,  

The Sixth Form Centre, 5th Floor,

143 Great Portland Street,

London, W1W 6QN.

http://www.portland-place.co.uk/

 

***************************************************

Wednesday 13th June 2012

Annual General Meeting of the Wagner Society

19:00

Swedenborg Hall

20 Bloomsbury Way

(access from Barter Street)

London WC1A 2TH

http://www.swedenborg.org.uk/

 

Members are cordially invited to join the Chairman for drinks after the meeting

 

**********************************************************************

FURTHER PLANNED EVENTS FOR SPRING-SUMMER 2012

We are pleased to present a series of events in preparation for the revival of Keith Warner's Ring at Covent Garden in the autumn of 2012.

 

Tuesday 17th April - the Heldentenor; an exploration by Neil Howlett. Please note the date; full details will be published in the April edition of Wagner News.

 

Thursday 26th April - a talk by Dan Sherman "Wagner at the Met". This multi-media presentation has been given with great success to the Washington, New York and San Francisco Wagner Societies. It will be at 143 Great Portland Street (lift to the top floor); wine at 7.00pm, talk at 7.30pm; tickets £12.00.

 

Saturday 26th May - a study day with Paul Dawson Bowling "The Ring Experience and its meaning to us". Full details in the April Wagner News.

 

 

 

____________________________________________________________________________________

Tickets for all London events of the Wagner Society (except where indicated) are bookable in advance by letter now from the Ticket Events Secretary,  Mike Morgan, 9 West Court, Downley, High Wycombe, Bucks HP13 5TG

e-mail: eventssecretary(at)wagnersociety.org

Please enclose a stamped addressed envelope when requesting tickets and please make cheques payable to 'The Wagner Society'.

___________________________

 

Peter West has kindly made available several links to a random selection of photographs he has taken for the Wagner Society, the Mastersingers and the ROH Covent Garden, between 2005-2009:

 

http://imageevent.com/donnington/wagneroperawiththemastersingers

 

http://imageevent.com/donnington/wagnerssiegfriedact3

 

http://imageevent.com/donnington/wagneratthelinbury

 

http://imageevent.com/donnington/pushkinhouse

 

http://imageevent.com/donnington/operasnaps

 

http://imageevent.com/donnington/royalacademyofmusic

 

http://imageevent.com/donnington/elektra

 

http://imageevent.com/donnington/wagtoons

 

http://imageevent.com/donnington/wagdayattheram

 

Click each thumbnail in the respective albums to enlarge the image, then click "next" to proceed or "slideshow" (for a timed presentation.)

 

Viewers are respectfully reminded that all images are copyright to the photographer and should not, therefore, be copied

 

Kind regards

David

 

EVENT VENUES AND ACCESS INFORMATION

Members who attend events regularly will be aware that we have been trying a number of new venues. From now onwards, we will be using three venues in Central London. The following information clarifies where they are and the situation regarding accessibility:

_________________________________

Portland Place School, 56 and 58 Portland Place, London, W1B 1NJ and The Sixth Form Centre, 5th Floor, 143 Great Portland Street, London, W1W 6QN.

http://www.portland-place.co.uk/

 For smaller meetings we will use the library, which is on the ground floor and has easy access; for larger meetings we will be in the main hall, which is on the first floor; toilets are also on first floor level; refreshments are served on the ground floor. There is one small step at the front door, but no other steps to the ground floor; for the first floor there is a tall flight of stairs.

Portland Place School main school buildings are on the right when walking north on Portland Place. This is the same side as the BBC. The nearest station is Regent’s Park, (Bakerloo line) also close by are stations at Oxford Circus and Great Portland Street.(Various lines) There is good parking with no charge after 6.30pm in the Portland Place area.

Portland Place School sixth form centre is around the corner from the main school buildings on Portland Place. One proceeds north towards Regent's Park then take the first left (5 meters distance) and proceed two streets down to Great Portland Street, then turn right. The Sixth Form centre is about 30 meters down the street. There is level entrance to the building then take the lift to to the 5th floor.

 The nearest station is Regent’s Park, (Bakerloo line) also close by are stations at Oxford Circus and Great Portland Street.(Various lines) There is good parking with no charge after 6.30pm in the Portland Place area.

(It is in the Congestion Charge Zone, hours 7.00-18.00 Monday to Friday)

_________________________________

THE LONDON WELSH CENTRE,

157-163 Gray's Inn Road London WC1X 8UE

http://www.londonwelsh.org/english_files/welcome_english.htm

The Centre is situated at the mid point of the Gray's Inn Road street just north of the junction with Guilford Street.

Nearest underground stations are Russell Square (Piccadilly line-zone One) and Kings Cross (Circle, Hammersmith, Metropolitan, Northern, Piccadilly, and Victoria lines-Zone One) and Chancery lane.

FURTHER INFORMATION

The Centre, which has disabled access (one step but if that is a problem please contact the Centre to arrange a step-free access), is roughly equidistant from Russell Square, Chancery Lane and Kings Cross tube stations. Buses 17, 45 and 46 run along Gray’s Inn Road, alight at the Guildford Road stop. The telephone number of the Centre is 0207 837 3722.

(It is in the Congestion Charge Zone, hours 7.00-18.00 Monday to Friday)

 

History of the Centre

The origins of the London Welsh Association date back to 1920 when an organisation ‘Young Wales’ was formed to give a focus for young Welsh people in London.  There was, however, no formal meeting place outside the various Welsh chapels.  Social gatherings  on Saturday evenings  at a couple of hotels owned by a successful Welsh businessman  demonstrated the real need for a meeting place of non-sectarian character for the younger members of the Community.    In 1931 a philanthropist,  Sir Howell J. Williams,  purchased premises in Mecklenburgh Square having frontage onto Grays Inn Road.  The building rapidly became the meeting place of the functions and committees of the various London Welsh societies and organisations, while at the same time serving as a club for the members of the Association taking advantage of the amenities provided.

The premises fronting on Grays Inn Road were completed later,  and opened in 1937, donated by Sir Howell J. Williams under a charitable Trust to provide a non-political and non-sectarian educational and cultural centre in London.

 The Trust’s objects include the promotion of knowledge and use of the Welsh language, the appreciation of literature, music and art and culture for the benefit of the Welsh community, and to provide an information bureau on matters concerning Wales and Welsh life in London.     It was the realisation of a long held dream of the benefactor to provide in London a permanent home for young men and women from Wales.   The new accommodation provided a spacious lounge and tea-room in panelled oak on the ground floor,  and on the upper  floor a billiard room and gymnasium.    The building was dedicated to the memory of those lost in the Great War (the first World War).

Ironically it was only two years  after the joyous opening ceremony took place that the country was again at war.   Use of the premises naturally declined when young men were enlisted and children evacuated.    During the period 1940-1946 the Centre became a Services Club providing beds and meals for those Welsh (and a few Canadian) military people passing through London.  It also catered for some entertainment such as dances and was used by a Welsh chapel for Sunday services when their own premises near the present Barbican site was bombed.   Despite extensive bombing in the area, the building at Grays Inn Road  remained unscathed throughout those turbulent years and was returned to its original use early in the post-war days, fostering a very successful Youth choir from 1953 and a prize winning  Drama Society.

Today the Centre is the base for three choirs, The London Welsh Chorale, The London Welsh Gwalia Male Choir and The London Welsh Male Voice Choir.   The Centre provides Welsh language classes and organises concerts by visiting choirs from Wales, book readings, discussion programmes, regular meetings of its Forum, and a variety of other entertainment.

A prestigious Young Welsh Singer competition is presented biennially at the Centre under the auspices of the London Welsh Trust.  This competition offers a valuable platform for young artists who may be attending the Colleges of Music in London,  Wales and beyond.   The young singers invariably go on to establish musical careers at a very high level.    The first competition of this type was held at the Centre in 1957 and was then known as the Festival Trophy competition.   Part of the prize was the opportunity to sing at the Royal Festival Hall Autumn Music Festival.    This competition was won by Gwyneth Jones (now Dame Gwyneth Jones).

In 1981 the competition was re-introduced  under the title ‘The London Welsh Young Singer of the Year’  and has been run biennially every since.   Many winners have gone on to represent Wales in the BBC Cardiff Singer of the World competition, the most recent being Natalya Romaniw.   This year’s competition  is  on  31st October.   The panel of adjudicators includes Dame Anne Evans,  whose brother John Evans instigated the competition.

Rita Clark

12 September 2009

__________________________________

Queen’s College, 43-49 Harley Street, London, W1G 8BT

http://www.qcl.org.uk/

For study days we will use the “Waiting Room” at Queen’s College. This historical room on the ground floor, used by Queen Victoria when she visited the school, is equipped with an excellent piano. There are two steps at the front door, but no others to the ground floor. Toilets are situated on the ground floor with no steps. Refreshments are served in the basement area, accessed by stairs.

Queen’s College is on the left of Harley Street when walking north from Wigmore Street, easily spotted by the big green flag, which flies over the door. The nearest tubes are Bond Street and Oxford Circus. Parking is free after 6.30pm; car drivers should note that Harley Street is one-way heading south, access from Marylebone Road. There is good parking with no charge after 6.30pm in this area, but parking charges apply on Saturdays 8.30-18.30 (It is in the Congestion Charge Zone, hours 7.00-18.00 Monday to Friday)

(Please note that on days when the Waiting Room is not available, Study days will switch to Portland Place School)

___________________________________________

The Swedenborg Hall, 20-21 Bloomsbury Way, London, WC1A 2TH (access from Barter Street)

http://www.swedenborg.org.uk/

Many members will be very familiar with the Swedenborg Hall, which has been used by the society for some time. The main hall is up six steps at the front door, and toilets are situated in the basement for gentlemen and on the first floor for ladies, both accessed by flights of stairs.

The nearest tube is Holborn; the easiest route to walk is from Holborn via Bloomsbury Court to Barter Street. Parking is available after 6.30pm (and unusually good for motorcycles!)

(It is in the Congestion Charge Zone, hours 7.00-18.00 Monday to Friday)

Members attending meetings who would like help with access will be very welcome and should contact Jeremy Rowe, Programme Director, in advance if possible.

_______________________________________________________

The Henry Wood Hall Trinity Church Square, London SE1 4HE.   

 http://www.hwh.co.uk/

 

Nearest tube Borough (Northern Line)

Members attending meetings who would like help with access will be very welcome and should contact Jeremy Rowe, Programme Director, in advance if possible.

(It is in the Congestion Charge Zone, hours 7.00-18.00 Monday to Friday)

________________________________________________________

 

 

 

 

Registered Charity Number 1076508

The Mastersingers & The Wagner Society Young Artists Programme

These photographs (© Peter West), and many more, can be seen on the Mastersingers website:  www.mastersingers.org.uk

The Mastersingers Company was formed in 1998 by singer Malcolm Rivers for the promotion of the operas of Richard Wagner and for the development of young Wagner singers working alongside distinguished and experienced exponents of Wagner’s work.

 

The Wagner Society has for many years been supporting young artists, through bursaries and awards for lessons and coaching. It has also funded a number of staged and concert performances to give young artists the opportunity of appearing before the public.

 

The Society has now formally acknowledged this part of its activities by setting up a Young Artists Programme that will carry forward the work of training young artists and providing them with guidance and assistance.

 

Malcolm Rivers, Artistic Director of The Mastersingers, is co-director of the Wagner Society Young Artists Programme.

 

Working with The Mastersingers the programme has so far seen two very successful collaborations with the Rehearsal Orchestra, a performance of scenes from Das Rheingold, Act III of Die Walküre and a fascinating event combining a performance of Wagner’s songs with an exploration through words and music of his stormy relationship with Hector Berlioz.

 

Plans include further collaborations with the Rehearsal Orchestra – on Siegfried Act III and Götterdämmerung Act III, together with staged performances at the Royal Academy of Music.

The Mastersingers receives no grants or subsidy and therefore relies for its funding on private donations. We are always grateful to receive donations from anyone who wishes to help us to continue our work of supporting and developing the next generation of Wagner performers. If you wish to offer your support, please contact Malcolm at: The Mastersingers, 44 Merry Hill Mount, Bushey Herts WD23 1DJ

tel/fax: 020 8950 4651 email: malcolm(at)mastersingers.org.uk

 

________________________________________

Return to the Wagner Society homepages

__________________________________________ 

The Wagner Society is a registered charity (Number - 266383)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stats2