International Association of Wagner Societies

Last updated
RWVI
International Association of Wagner Societies
Founded1991 (1991)
Headquarters Bayreuth
Location
Members
26,000
Key people
Dr Harry Leutscher, President
Affiliations Bayreuth Festival
Website www.richard-wagner.org/rwvi/en/

The International Association of Wagner Societies (Der Richard-Wagner-Verband International e.V., also known as "Der RWVI") is an affiliation of Wagner societies (Richard Wagner-Verband) that promotes interest and research into the works of Richard Wagner, raises funds for scholarships for young music students, singers, and instrumentalists, and supports the annual Bayreuth Festival. It also sponsors symposia, holds singing competitions for Wagnerian voices, and issues awards for stage direction and stagings of Wagner's operas. The association is a nonprofit organization, governed by a Presidium elected every 5 years, headed by a President. [1]

Contents

History

The first Richard Wagner society was launched in Mannheim, Germany in 1871, one year after the premiere of the German composer's opera Die Walküre ("The Valkyrie") in Munich. The brainchild of Wagner's longtime friend, the music publisher Emil Heckel, the first society was a simple, locally conceived venue for celebrating Wagner's music. In the wake of Wagner's difficulties in securing interest in the public subscription for his future Bayreuth Festival, Heckel suggested to the composer that he sponsor additional societies to help secure support. Wagner embraced the idea enthusiastically, and by 1872, societies had been established in Vienna, Berlin, Leipzig and London (the latter founded by Edward Dannreuther (1844–1905), the author of Richard Wagner: His Tendencies and Theories published in 1873).

Wagner's dream, as described in a letter written in 1882, was that his Bayreuth Festival would be free for everyone to attend, however this was never possible because of the extremely high costs to organize and produce it. Nonetheless, based on Wagner's desires, societies refocused their efforts and began making it possible for promising talented musicians to attend. Public interest in supporting subscriptions to fund scholarships was initially tepid, but from 1919 forward, the number of societies increased steadily.

The International Association of Wagner Societies was founded in 1991 in Lyon. Today, more than 26,000 members in 147 societies belong to the International Association of Wagner Societies around the globe. The number of groups under the organization's auspices has expanded considerably in the last fifty years. Wagner societies can be found in all parts of the world, including the Netherlands, Venice, Great Britain, Scotland, Shanghai, Tokyo, Lisbon, Melbourne, Adelaide, Ankara, New York City, Toronto, Cape Town, Bangkok, New Zealand, Puerto Rico and the Ottawa/Gatineau area.

The societies are very diverse and offer a wide range of Wagner-related activities, including concerts, lectures, and publishing. The main organization holds a symposium called "Wagner Days in Venice" (Giornate Wagneriane a Venezia) in Italy each autumn.

Chairs and presidents

RWVI President Dr Harry Leutscher with conductor Sir Donald Runnicles.jpg
RWVI President Dr Harry Leutscher (left) at Deutsche Oper Berlin with conductor Sir Donald Runnicles
Outgoing RWVI President Rainer Fineske (back left), Nike Wagner, incoming RWVI president, Harry Leutscher (beige jacket).png
Outgoing RWVI President Rainer Fineske (3rd from left), incoming President, Harry Leutscher (3rd from right), Nike Wagner (left rear)
Current RWVI President

Richard Wagner International Congress

Nike Wagner addresses the RWVI Symposium, Deutsche Oper Berlin.png
Nike Wagner address to the 2024 Symposium Deutsche Oper Berlin
RWVI Symposium, 2024 at Deutsche Oper Berlin.png
RWVI President Rainer Fineske welcomes Symposium 2024
RWVI Congress 2023, Brussels, Assembly of Delegates.jpg
Congress 2023, Brussels, Assembly of Delegates
RWVI Congress 2023, Brussels, Gala Dinner.jpg
RWVI Congress 2023, Brussels, Gala Dinner
Opening speech RWVI Congress Munich 2021 President Rainer Fineske.jpg
Opening RWVI Congress Munich 2021 President Rainer Fineske
RWVI 2021 Congress Lenbachplatz farewell concert.jpg
2021 Congress Lenbachplatz farewell
RWVI 2019 Congress Assembly of Delegates Venice.jpg
RWVI 2019 Congress Assembly of Delegates held in Venice at the Ca' Vendramin Calergi
RWVI at Teatro La Fenice performance of Wagner Symphony No 1 & Wesendonck Lieder.jpg
RWVI at Teatro La Fenice: Wagner Symphony No 1 & Wesendonck Lieder
2018 RWVI Congress at Innsbruck.jpg
2018 Assembly of the Delegates, RWVI Congress at Innsbruck
Eva Wagner-Pasquier addresses the 2018 RWVI Congress at Innsbruck.jpg
Eva Wagner-Pasquier address to the 2018 Innsbruck Congress

Every year members of the local Wagner Societies gather for the Richard Wagner International Congress, to share experiences and to plan for the future in sessions. The congress takes place in a different city each year:

Congresses have also taken place in Frankfurt am Main, Bordeaux, Trier, and Budapest. As a result of the Covid pandemic, congresses planned between 2020 and 2022 in Bonn, Berlin and Madrid had to be cancelled. Originally scheduled to take place in early May in London, the 2024 Congress was moved by the RWVI, first to Madrid, then eventually took place in late May in Berlin, following organisational difficulties. [6] The 2025 Congress will be held in Stockholm. [7] [8]

See also

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References