Wagner Society in Qld Inc.

LOVE FORBIDDEN
An exploration of Wagner's DAS LIEBESVERBOT with musical & visual illustrations
by Graham Bruce
Graham's interest in Wagner's early operas stems from the 1983 centenary of Wagner's death.
In that year the Bavarian State Opera of Munich staged all the composer's operas including the first three: Das Liebesverbot, Rienzi, and (in concert) Die Feen.
The production of Das Liebesverbot was a lavish one, superbly directed and designed by the great French director, Jean-Pierre Ponnelle.
A sound recording was made of the strongly-cast performance Graham saw, which starred Herman Prey. This recording will provide the musical excerpts.
Das Liebesverbot is a product of Wagner's youthful enthusiasm for Italian opera and French operetta and listeners will hear echoes of Italian comic opera, and the composers Auber, Bellini and Rossini.
There are fast-moving ensembles, comic characters, and a wealth of beautiful music.
Subject-wise, the opera reflects Wagner's sympathy with the liberal democratic ideas of the Young German movement, ideals which landed the composer's friend Heinrich Laube in prison.
The movement’s opposition to authority and its attitude to free love appealed to Wagner who enthusiastically fashioned a libretto from Shakespeare's Measure for Measure.
In Wagner's version, the Viceroy of Sicily, Friedrich, bans all frivolity and free love, while at the same time lusting after Isabella, the sister of the man he has condemned for the same sin.
At the end, his hypocrisy is revealed and a riotous carnival atmosphere returns.
So that the talk can concentrate on the music itself, some prior documentation and a synopsis will be placed on the website (and will be available in hardcopy at the talk).
This will include the circumstances of composition, the social and political context, and the occasions of the first performances.

THE DAS LIEBESVERBOT COMPETITION
Think you know your Wagner? Then test yourself.
Musical illustration
Click on the link above and you will hear a brief passage from Das Liebesverbot. The passage features a rising musical phrase which Wagner used again in a later, better-known opera.
The society member who first correctly identifies the position in the later opera will, in the spirit of indulgence encouraged by Das Liebesverbot, win a bottle of Liqueur Muscat.
To win, you must: Identify the later opera, stating the act, the scene, and the position of the passage in the action of the scene;
Send these details in an email to grahambruce@iinet.net.au
The first correct answer to be received will be deemed the winner.
The winner will be announced and presented with the prize at the end of the Das Liebesverbot talk on February 7.
So that the talk can concentrate on the music, some prior documentation and a synopsis is attached below.

more about LOVE FORBIDDEN
a BRIEF SYNOPSIS of DAS LIEBESVERBOT

Wagner Society in Qld Inc.

CHOOSING OPERAS AND SINGERS
Brad Jarrett will reveal the decision making process at Opera Qld.

Wagner Society in Qld Inc.

EXPERIENCING WAGNER
Michael Fulcher will discuss experiences in New Zealand and at the ENO.

Wagner Society in Qld Inc.

BIRTHDAY DINNER

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