A day led by the President of the Wagner Society, Derek Blyth, on Wagner’s ‘preliminary evening’ to the ‘The Ring’.

It is, arguably, Wagner’s perfect work, following, as it does, the principles laid down in his essay ‘The Artwork of the Future’ and his book ‘Opera and Drama’.

In the course of the day, we will examine relevant passages of these two theoretical works as they apply to Das Rheingold, backed up with aural and visual excerpts, and how Wagner moved from theory to practice in this, his first section of his tetralogy.

Do not worry if this sounds dry and dusty as Derek’s style is usually lively and engaging.

Cost: Members: £23.50; Guests: £27.50. Students: £5.00; Please pay by BACS to Wagner Society Manchester Sort Code 30-95-13; Account number 01199761, or contact susi.wagnersocietymanchester@gmail.com.

Original artwork, The Dawn of Time, by Theresa Newham, in the possession of our President and used with kind permission of the artist.