Chairman: Mr. Markku Lulli-Seppälä
Members: 742 (31.12.2000)

EVENTS

Turku:

14.1. Music journalist Matti Lehtonen's lecture on Wagner's use of polyphony in Die Meistersinger.

11.2. M.A. Jopi Harri's lecture on Rienzi.

3.4. Dramaturgist, pianist Jussi Törnwall's lecture on Das Rheingold: "It all began with a dream".

25.4. Music journalist, writer Hannu-Ilari Lampila's lecture on the operatic styles of Verdi and Wagner.

16.5. M.A. Marita Airakorpi's lecture "The educational sense of musicin the human conception of antiquity", and Ph.D. Anthony Johnson's lecture "Nietzsche, Wagner, and the modes of antiquities".

5.-6.10. The ten-year anniversary of the Finnish Wagner Society:

5.10. Introduction to the Wagner concert of Turku Philharmonic Orchestra.

5.10. The Wagner concert of Turku Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Cecilia Rydinger Alin. The programme consisted of Symphony in C, Wesendonck-Lieder (soloist: Päivi Nisula), and the Ouverture of Die Meistersinger.

5.10. Nachspiel after the concert at Park Hotel.

6.10. Fritz Lang's motion picture Die Nibelungen (video performance) at Park Hotel.

6.10. Evening party at the Turku Conservatory hosted by chairman Markku Lulli-Seppälä, which included music performances (mezzo-soprano Sari Nordqvist, tenor Pentti Perksalo, tenor Jopi Harri, artist M. A. Numminen, pianist Marko Autio, violinist Markku Lulli-Seppälä), a lecture on "Topelius and Wagner" (professor Hannu Salmi), interview by Mr. Martti Parkkari of Ms. Marjukka Lulli-Seppälä, Mr. M. A. Numminen and Mr. Uolevi Karrakoski, banquet, and ball (dance music performed by Pentti Perksalo and Mr. Yrjö Teuri).

8.11. Music journalist Harri Kuusisaari's lecture "Harry Kupfer as Wagner stage director".

11.12. Professor Hannu Salmi's lecture on Fritz Lang's motion picture Die Nibelungen.

Helsinki:

24.1. Mr. Jack Leo's lecture "The great Wagner voices of 20th century II".25.1. Music journalist Klaus Pylkkänen's presentation and analysis of various productions of Siegfried.

13.2. Our society visited YLE, Finnish Broadcasting Company, and received information (along with a discussion) of the culture programmes provided by the public Finnish radio and television. As representatives of YLE appeared Ms.Helena Kokko (TV1), Ms. Elina Paloheimo (TV1), and Mr. Klaus Pylkkänen (Radio YLE1).

28.3. Literary survey on Wagner. Introduction by Ms. Cristina Andersson. Panelists: Mr. Antero Karttunen (chairman), Mr. Markku Lulli-Seppälä, psychiatrist Jari Sinkkonen and Mr. Martti-Tapio Kuuskoski.

5.9. Ring Seminar which consisted of lectures by professor Eero Tarasti on Ring, philosopher Tuomas Nevanlinna on Wagner and the feminine, and opera manager Heljä Angervo on producing Wagner on stage.

24.10. Licentiate of music Päivi Järviö's lecture "Claudio Monteverdi, a composer accepted even by Wagner". Music was performed by theorbist Arto Wikla and soprano Ulla Paakkunainen.

27.11. Music journalist, writer Hannu-Ilari Lampila's lecture on the operatic styles of Verdi and Wagner.

JOURNEYS

8.-16.3. A journey to Vienna. At Staatsoper Lohengrin, Das Rheingold, Rienzi, and Puccini: Turandot. Excellent guiding by Frau Danninger on Wagner in Vienna including a guided tour to Musikverein.

10.5. A trip from Helsinki to Lahti, to visit the new Sibelius Hall

and to att end the concert of Sinfonia Lahti, conducted by Osmo Vänskä. Haydn:

Symphony n:o 92, Macmillan: World's Ransoming, Mahler: Des Knaben Wunderhorn (soloists: Natalie Stutzmann, alto; Olaf Bär, baritone). After the concert, meeting with some of the artists along with Aplodit Orkesterille r.y., the "Friends of Sinfonia Lahti".

18.-21.6. A journey from Turku and Helsinki to St. Petersburg White Nights music festival. At Mariinsky Theatre: Die Walküre (premiere, Siegmund performed by Plácido Domingo), and Verdi: Aida (conducted by Domingo).

4.-6.8. In Bayreuth, Lohengrin, Meistersinger, and Parsifal along with the Scholarship holder, for four members.

21.-26.8. Bayreuth Ring Cycle III for 14 members.

29.8. A trip from Turku to Finnish National Opera. Das Rheingold.

31.8. A trip from Turku to Finnish National Opera. Die Walküre.

3.9. A trip from Turku to Finnish National Opera. Siegfried.

6.9. A trip from Turku to Finnish National Opera. Götterdämmerung.

6.-9.12. A journey to London. At Covent Garden: Parsifal (premiere), and at English National Opera: Mozart: Nozze di Figaro.

SCHOLARSHIIPS

14.1. Bayreuth Scholarship 2001 to mezzo-soprano Sari Nordqvist.

PUBLICATIONS

Our biannual members' magazine Wagneriaani (The Wagnerian) numbers 17 (72 pages, March) and 18 (80 p., October) was distributed to all members and to many international friends. The latter was a Tenth Anniversary Edition including a free CD which consists of Wagner performances by Finnish artists during 1969-2000. The artists include the soprano Irja Auroora, tenor Pentti Perksalo, bass Martti Talvela, baritone Jorma Hynninen, and soprano Anita Välkki, accompanied by the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra and the Turku Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Ulf Söderblom, Okko Kamu, Jussi Jalas, and Pertti Pekkanen.

Along with Finnish our magazine has articles in English and Swedish. Subscriptions: 17 /year.

HONORARY MEMBERS AND HONORARY CHAIRMAN

Conductor Cecilia Rydinger Alin from Sweden and tenor Pentti Perksalo were appointed honorary members of our society on October 5th and 6th. Now we have seven honorary members, the others being (in chronological order) Ms. Anne Evans (soprano), Mr. Frank Shipway (conductor), Mr. Jorma Hynninen (baritone), Herr Wolfgang Wagner (festival director), and Mr. Peter Bassett (writer).

Mr. Uolevi Karrakoski, the founder and chairman (1991-1996) of our society was appointed honorary chairman at our Anniversary on 6th October.