Chairman: Mr. Markku Lulli-Seppälä
Members: 720 (31.12.2000)

EVENTS

Turku:

16.1. Dramaturgist Jussi Törnwall's lecture on Die Walküre: "It is all about a human being".

13.2. M.A. Jopi Harri's lecture on the principal leitmotivs of Der Ring des Nibelungen.

16.3. Ph.D. Hannu Salmi's lecture "The composer and politics - the story of Wagner".

2.4. Pianist Pekka Asikainen's lecture on Parsifal: "The guilt, sympathy, and freedom".

4.5. Music journalist Matti Lehtonen's lecture on the (three) Brünnhilde(s) of Wagner's Ring.

17.9. Mr. Markku Lulli-Seppälä's lecture "Keys into the comprehension of myths II".

11.10. A double lecture on Tristan und Isolde, presented by M.A. Martti Parkkari and Mr. Markku Lulli-Seppälä.

15.11. Ph.D. Anne Sivuoja-Gunaratnam's lecture: "Kundry - the contrast of Parsifal's holiness".

28.11. Conductor Janne Haapanen's lecture: "The orchestration in Lohengrin".

Helsinki:

25.1. Music journalist Klaus Pylkkänen's presentation and analysis of various productions of Siegfried.

21.3. Mr. Jack Leo's lecture: "The great Wagner voices of 20th century".

7.6. Mr. Peter Bassett's presentation in English of Das Rheingold.

8.6. International Ring Seminar. Lecturers: Mr. Josef Lienhart, Mr. Hannu Salmi, Mr. Derek Watson, Mr. Pekka Asikainen, Mr. Barry Millington, psychiatrist Jari Sinkkonen, Mr. Peter Bassett. Panelists: the lecturers + Ph.D. David Stanley-Porter, opera manager Erkki Korhonen. The chairman of the seminar: Mr. Matti Lehtonen. The seminar was held mainly in English (one lecture in German).

9.6. Mr. Peter Bassett's presentation in English of Die Walküre.

12.6. Mr. Peter Bassett's presentation in English of Siegfried.

15.6. Mr. Peter Bassett's presentation in English of Götterdämmerung.

12.9. A visit to the editorial office for cultural pages of the Helsinki newspaper Helsingin Sanomat.

8.11. Composer Uljas Pulkkis's lecture on the piano works of Wagner. The lecturer was also interviewed regarding his career.

29.11. Mr. Pekka Asikainen's presentation on Lohengrin.

Other districts of Finland:

10.6. A summer evening party in Sarfvik, Kirkkonummi, hosted by Mrs. Riitta-Liisa Mäkipaasi, the deputy chairwoman of the Finnish Wagner Society. Music was performed by opera singers Tove Åman and Anu Hälvä, and pianist Kari Hänninen. The guest of honour: Mr. Josef Lienhart.

JOURNEYS

8.1. A trip from Turku to the Finnish National Opera, Helsinki. Berlioz: The Condemnation of Faust.

7.14.4. A journey to Prague and Dresden. In Dresden: Parsifal. In Prague: various opera performances.

17.5. A trip from Turku to FNO. Das Rheingold.

21.5. A trip from Turku to FNO. Die Walküre.

28.5. A trip from Turku to FNO. Siegfried.

4.6. A trip from Turku to FNO. Götterdämmerung.

7.6. A trip from Turku to FNO. Das Rheingold.

9.6. A trip from Turku to FNO. Die Walküre.

12.6. A trip from Turku to FNO. Siegfried.

15.6. A trip from Turku to FNO. Götterdämmerung.

26.8. A trip from Turku via Helsinki to Urajärvi Mansion Museum in Asikkala.

14.10. A trip from Turku to FNO. Aulis Sallinen: King Lear.

27.30.10. A journey to Karlstad, Sweden. Tristan und Isolde.

9.12.12. A journey to Göteborg, Sweden. Lohengrin.

SCHOLARSHIIPS

19.1. Scholarships to baritone Mr. Tommi Hakala and opera director Mr. Ville Saukkonen.

PUBLICATIONS

Our biannual members' magazine Wagneriaani (The Wagnerian) numbers 15 (88 pages, May) and 16 (84 p. October) was distributed to all members and to many international friends. Along with Finnish there are articles in English and Swedish. Subscriptions: 17 euros/year.

The first book published by our Society was released in December 1999. This book is Peter Bassett's A Ring for the Millennium A Guide to Wagner's Der Ring des Nibelungen translated to Finnish by Mr. Uolevi Karrakoski. The Finnish version was well received in the press and has sold very well during 2000, and we are working on our next translation (of a book) to be published in 2001.

HONORARY MEMBERS

Mr. Peter Bassett (writer) from Australia was appointed a honorary member of our society on June 10. He is our fifth HM. The others are in chronological order: Ms. Anne Evans (soprano), Mr. Frank Shipway (conductor), Mr. Jorma Hynninen (baritone), and Herr Wolfgang Wagner (festival director).

Updated in Turku, Finland 2nd April 2001