© Bayreuther Festspiele, Meistersinger 2018

News from the Members

08.11.2016
Oswald Bauer presents his new History of the Bayreuth Festival in Iceland
Dr Oswald Georg Bauer was invited to Iceland by the Icelandic Richard Wagner Society and visited the country from November 3rd to November 7th.
Dr Bauer presented his recent book, "Die Geschichte der Bayreuther Festspiele", as a prelude to the Icelandic Wagner Society's annual gala dinner on Saturday the 5th of November.

The following day he gave a lecture in the new concert hall, Harpa, hosted by the Wagner Society in co-operation with the Icelandic Opera and the Icelandic Academy of Arts. His lecture was on the subject of Wagner and Venice: Amore e morte in Venezia/Love and Death in Venice.

Dr Bauer, together with Selma Gudmundsdottir, Chairman of the Icelandic Wagner Society, was invited to visit Iceland‘s President, Gudni Th. Johannesson in his official residence in Bessastaðir. Other guests included Steinunn Birna Ragnarsdottir, Director of Icelandic Opera; Arni Björnsson, author of the book Wagner and the Völsungs; and Johann J. Olafsson, board member of the Icelandic Wagner Society. The President was presented with a copy of the history of the Bayreuth Festival story as a gift from the Icelandic Society.  

Dr. Bauer and Selma Gudmundsdottir, together with Ambassador Gunnar Snorri Gunnarsson were also guests of the German Ambassador in Reykjavik, Herbert Beck, who hosted a lunch in a local restaurant.

 Photos:

1.      Dr. Oswald Georg Bauer with Iceland‘s President, Gudni. Th Johannesson.

2.      The President and Dr Bauer with Selma Gudmundsdottir, Chairman of the Richard Wagner Verband, Island.

3.      The President and Dr. Bauer with Selma Gudmundsdottir, Steinnunn B. Ragnarsdottir, Director of the Iceland Opera, Arni Björnsson, author of the book, Iceland and the Ring of the Nibelungen and Johann J. Olafsson, board member of the Iceland Wagner Society.

4.      Dr Bauer at the gala dinner of the Richard Wagner Verband, Iceland, with the former President of Iceland, Vigdis Finnbogadottir.