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Journey鈥檚 End

Wagner鈥檚 inaugural Bayreuth Festival has left him once again with crippling debts. Is this how his dream will end? Presented by Donald Macleod.

Wagner鈥檚 inaugural Bayreuth Festival has left him once again with crippling debts. Is this how his dream will end? Presented by Donald Macleod.

This week, Donald Macleod follows Wagner on his decades-long journey to realise his dream of building his own music theatre, and establishing a festival there dedicated to his music. We see how Wagner鈥檚 revolutionary ideas and vaulting ambition struggled against the reality of securing supporters, raising finances, and inspiring audiences.

Today: Wagner鈥檚 inaugural Bayreuth Festival had been a great critical success but had left him, once again with seemingly insurmountable debts. The planned second festival now seems like an impossible dream. The constant struggle has taken its toll, and Wagner鈥檚 friends wonder if he has the strength to continue.

Die Meistersinger von N眉rnberg: Act 3, Scene 5 鈥淢orgenlich Leuchtend鈥 (Walther鈥檚 Prize Song)
Waldemar Kmentt, tenor (Walther von Stolzing)
Choir and Orchestra of the Bayreuth Festival, conducted by Karl B枚hm

Parsifal: Prelude to Act 1
Orchestra of Welsh National Opera, conducted by Reginald Goodall

Parsifal: Act 1, Entry to the knight鈥檚 castle
Sir Donald McIntyre, bass-baritone (Gurnemanz)
Orchestra and Chorus of Welsh National Opera, conducted by Reginald Goodall

Meistersinger: Act 3, Scene 4, 鈥淪elig wie die Sonne鈥 (Quintet)
Bernd Weikl, baritone (Sachs)
Ben Heppner, tenor (Walther)
Cheryl Studer, soprano (Eva)
Deon van der Walt, tenor (David)
Cornelia Kalisch, mezzo-soprano, (Magdalena)
Bavarian State Orchestra, conducted by Wolfgang Sawallisch

Parsifal: Act 2, Scene 2 (Klingsor鈥檚 magic garden)
Siegfried Jerusalem, tenor (Parsifal)
Edith Wiens, soprano (flowermaiden)
Constance Hauman, soprano (flowermaiden)
Daniela Bechly, soprano (flowermaiden)
Hilde Leidland, soprano (flowermaiden)
Pamela Coburn, soprano (flowermaiden)
Sally Burgess, mezzo soprano (flowermaiden)
Berlin Philharmonic, conducted by Daniel Barenboim

Parsifal 鈥 Good Friday Music
Columbia Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Bruno Walter

59 minutes

Last on

Fri 24 Feb 2023 12:00

Music Played

  • Richard Wagner

    Die Meistersinger von N眉rnberg: Act 3, Scene 5 "Morgenlich Leuchtend"

    Singer: Waldemar Kmentt. Orchestra: Bayreuth Festival Orchestra. Choir: Chor der Bayreuther Festspiele. Conductor: Karl Bohm.
    • ORFEO : C 753-084L.
    • ORFEO.
    • 11.
  • Richard Wagner

    Parsifal: Prelude to Act 1

    Orchestra: Welsh National Opera Orchestra. Conductor: Reginald Goodall.
    • EMI : 565-665 2.
    • EMI.
    • 1.
  • Richard Wagner

    Parsifal: Act 1, Entry to the knight's castle

    Singer: Donald McIntyre. Orchestra: Welsh National Opera Orchestra. Choir: Welsh National Opera Chorus. Conductor: Reginald Goodall.
    • EMI : 565-665 2.
    • EMI.
    • 3.
  • Richard Wagner

    Meistersinger: Act 3, Scene 4, "Selig wie die Sonne" (Quintet)

    Conductor: Wolfgang Sawallisch. Singer: Ben Heppner. Singer: Bernd Weikl. Singer: Cheryl Studer. Singer: Deon van der Walt. Singer: Cornelia Kallisch.
    • EMI : 739-018 2.
    • EMI.
    • 1.
  • Richard Wagner

    Parsifal: Act 2, Scene 2 (Klingsor's magic garden)

    Singer: Siegfried Jerusalem. Singer: Edith Wiens. Singer: Constance Hauman. Singer: Daniela Bechly. Singer: Hilde Leidland. Singer: Pamela Coburn. Singer: Sally Burgess. Orchestra: Berliner Philharmoniker. Conductor: Daniel Barenboim.
    • TELDEC : 9031-74448-2.
    • TELDEC.
    • 4.
  • Richard Wagner

    Parsifal: Good Friday Music

    Choir: Occidental College Concert Choir. Conductor: Bruno Walter.
    • SONY CLASSICAL : SM2K-64456/B.
    • SONY CLASSICAL.
    • 4.

Broadcasts

  • Fri 1 Oct 2021 12:00
  • Fri 24 Feb 2023 12:00

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