News from…

The Washington National Wagner Society

Darryl Winston, Artistic Director

Presents



Wagner: On the Road to Tristan

A Musical Journey with Pianist-Lecturer

Dr. Stephen Brown

and

Cynthia Ballentine, mezzo-soprano

Performing “The Wesendonck Lieder”



FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Contact Gene
Raymond 301 460 4868



Join the Washington National Wagner Society as it
presents a musical journey, “Wagner: On the Road to
Tristan” featuring pianist-lecturer Dr. Stephen Brown
nobly assisted by award-winning mezzo-soprano Cynthia
Ballentine Sunday, April 27th at 2pm at the historic
Universalist National Memorial Church located at 16th
and S Streets, NW. (1810 16th Street, NW)

The program will also offer a selected program of
arias by Richard Wagner sung by an outstanding group
of national and international vocalists including
Marje Palmieri, Bolormaa Jugdersuren, Richard Gabriel,
and David Simons. The afternoon’s proceedings will be
hosted by The Wagner National Wagner’s Society’s
artistic director, Darryl Winston.

Due to Wagner’s connection with the Revolution of
1848-49 Wagner had to leave Dresden post haste in
order to avoid the death penalty. It was Franz Liszt
who took him in and set up further arrangements. He
finally ended up in Zurich in 1849. In 1852 he met
Otto and Mathilde Wesendonck who eventually took in
the refugee and his 1st wife Minna. Under Otto’s
patronage there Wagner was able to concentrate on his
composing without the burden of having to earn a
living. In 1857 the Wesendoncks moved into a grand
villa on Lake Zurich and offered the Wagners a small
house nearby which Wagner called, “Asylum”. This name
will certainly take on a different meaning after our
musi cal journey. We are sure that more light will be
shed upon the intrigues, antics, and music of our
bipolar genius by today’s special guest; pianist,
lecturer, Dr. Stephen Brown and our most gifted
singers.

For those new to us our goals and programs
will be quite different is other musical Society’s
bearing Wagner’s name. We a more performance and
information oriented organization. Although other
organizations throughout the country bear the name of
Richard Wagner; it is out intent to carry on the
original Wagner Society which started in 1884 in
Washington, DC. That was truly a performance group
that not only presented the works of Wagner but the
works of other composers from the Classical Period
thru newly composed music of the day. Unlike the
earlier group Wagner’s music will be featured on every
program in some form or another. And like the earlier
Wagner Society, we too are housed in the Universalist
Church. We have come full circle. With our motto,
“Bridging the multi-cultural, multi-ethnical,
multi-generational Communities through the music of
Richard Wagner” we look forward to presenting musical
programs which will be of the highest musical quality
and informative as well as fun.

The tickets are on a suggested donation basis as
follows: General Admission $15.00 Please be so kind as
to run this information in the free ad listings. For
press tickets and other information please contact:
Gene Raymond at 301-460-4868.





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