Events

The WSSC plans unique events

throughout the calender year…

Our events occur in several regular places throughout the year and sometimes in special locations which will be noted: The Colburn School 200 S. Grand Avenue Los Angeles, CA 90012 Directions Parking The Chairman’s Home: 901 Chimes Ave. Duarte, CA 91010 Directions Bayreuth Festival Festspielhügel 1-2 85445 Bayreuth

BRÜNNHILDE:

REDEEMING THE REDEEMER

John L. Mastrogiovanni, D.Min.

Sunday, Oct. 20th @ 1:00PM

at The Colburn School

When one thinks of Wagner’s heroic characters, it is easy to see them slaying dragons, obtaining a coveted ring, winning song competitions, and even claiming a high- priestly position over the Holy Grail. Yet, to see Wagner’s works this way is actually a mis- construing of his sense of heroism. In all of Wagner’s operas, particularly from Der Fliegende Holländer to Parsifal, it wasn’t so much about conquering armies, slaying dragons, or obtaining a powerful ring, but the redemption and transformation of an individual and society. While all the obvious trappings of such heroic acts are present, the focus of Wagner is that such heroism never really made the protagonist heroic, or more importantly, a “complete person.” To be complete, there had to be a catalyst, in Wagner that was none other than powerful force of the feminine nature, and one of the greatest forces depicted in all his works is Brünnhilde.

LEONARD BERNSTEIN’S:

WAGNER: TRISTAN UND ISOLDE

Sunday, Dec. 22th @ 1:00PM

at the Chairman’s Home

This is one of the most beautiful and brilliant recordings of Wagner´s Tristan und Isolde. Leonard Bernstein’s way of conducting this opera is unique and he makes orchestra and singers perform at their very best. The Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks was the only German orchestra with which Leonard Bernstein regularly collaborated for many years and it has numbered among the top ten orchestras in the world. A star cast of singers with Peter Hofmann and Hildegard Behrens in the title roles completes this exceptional semi-staged production. Bernstein’s 1981 recording of Wagner s Tristan und Isolde is still considered an outstanding interpretation and has set the bar until this day. When he heard this performance Karl Bohm said, “Bernstein has conducted Tristan und Isolde the way that Wagner intended it to be conducted .”