A collaboration of the Richard Wagner Society of the Upper Midwest and the Triangle Wagner Society

Program

Richard Wagner provocatively changed the course of music, drama, and art throughout the twentieth century, and his work continues to influence artists well into our own time. Since Wagner’s death in 1883, much of the discourse surrounding him has focused on his artistic legacy. However, Wagner was a man of the nineteenth century, firmly rooted to a specific time and place. Although tracking the ebb and flow of an artist’s influences and innovations brings great aesthetic enjoyment, focus on what influenced Wagner has largely been absent from the conversation surrounding him. Using Wagner’s enigmatic autobiography, Mein Leben, as a starting point, Joshua Borths will explore the artistic influences on Wagner, emphasizing his art as a conversation between the old and new and discovering the foundations of his greatest music dramas.

This presentation was originally made to members of the Triangle Wagner Society. This RWSUM event is a video recording of that original event.

Speaker

Joshua Borths is Director of Opera Theater at James Madison University. Click here for more information about his career.

Schedule

2:00 pm Presentation

3:30 pm Light Refreshments and Conversation

4:00 pm End of Event

Registration

This is a free event! Members and their guests may attend at no charge. However, we do ask that you RSVP (Register) for the event.

Directions

The Highland Park Library is located within the Highland Park Community Center at 1974 Ford Parkway, Saint Paul, MN 55116 (map), on the south side of the street roughly half-way between Fairview and Cleveland Avenues. A parking lot is located adjacent to and west of the community center. Its entrance is on Ford Parkway, just east of the Kenneth Street traffic light (map). If you are traveling east on Ford Parkway, turn right immediately after the light. If you are traveling west on Ford Parkway, turn left into the entrance just before the light. Some street parking is also available on both sides of Ford Parkway.

We will meet in the Highland Park Community Room located on the upper level of the library. After you enter the building, take either the stairway or the elevator to the upper level.

Covid-19 Protocol

To protect yourself and others, we encourage you to be vaccinated. You are welcome to wear masks at any time. Please do not attend if you have any COVID-19 symptoms.