Suomen Wagner-seura

Members 

Situation 31.12.2014: 551 members, of which 164 are “family members” (i.e. one main member + wife/husband/child living at the same address), plus 10 honorary members.

Events for members 

In Helsinki: 
27.1. Sibelius Academy. Movie: Richard Wagner – Eine Film-Biographie zur Feier der 100. Wiederkehr des Geburtstages des Meisters (1913)
25.2. Sibelius Academy. Researcher Riikka Siltanen (Uni. Helsinki): Richard Faltin as Finland’s pioneer Wagnerian. After the presentation there was a music performance with Riikka Siltanen (singing) and Risto-Matti Marin (piano).
19.3. Finnish National Opera. Music organizer as the invisible conductor of an opera performance. Music organizers Tomi Vekki and Susanna Sippola were telling us about their job.
28.4. Sibelius Academy. Artist visitor, stage director Anna Kelo from Finnish National Opera. Ms Kelo was responsible for the stage direction of the reprise production of The Ring.
19.5. Sibelius Academy. Docent Pentti Paavolainen (Uni. Helsinki): Northern myths in drama before The Ring.
14.9. Wagner/Loewe –soirée at Jussi Karjalainen’s recidence. Jussi Karjalainen (bass), Riitta Ingelin, piano.
2.10. Sibelius Academy. Artist visitor, costume designer Erika Turunen (FNO).
10.11. Sibelius Academy. Opera singer Herman Wallén’s presentation "Ein Bayreuther par excellence" Karl Scheidemantel’s life (1859–1923) with Wagner.
5.12. Christmas party at restaurant Laulumiehet. Baritones Olli Tuovinen and Antti Pakkanen, tenor Mikko Sateila, soprano Jenni Lättilä and pianist Tero Valtonen presented music by Wagner and other composers.

In Turku:
9.2. The annual meeting of the society at Park Hotel. After the meeting there was a movie Richard Wagner – Eine Film-Biographie zur Feier der 100. Wiederkehr des Geburtstages des Meisters.
25.4. Turku Philharmonic Orchestra’s concert, conducted by Kalle Kuusava, SWS stipendiate 2008. After the concert a get-together at Park Hotel, with Kalle Kuusava and the orchestra’s intendent Emilie Gardberg.
9.12. Mr Matti Lehtonen a talk ….

Opera Tours

30.1.-2.2. Vilna, Lithuanian National Opera. Lohengrin, Tristan & Isolde –ballet, Tchaikovsky’s Jevgeni Onegin.

1.6. Eurajoki. Bel Canto. Performers Mika Kares bass, Tiina-Maija Koskela soprano ja Hans-Otto Ehrström piano, and others.

Scholarship

Our scholarship holder 2014, soprano Miina-Liisa Värelä, travelled to Bayreuth to see 4.8 Der Fliegende Holländer, 5.8. Die Walküre and 6.8. Tannhäuser.

International affairs

Soprano Tiina-Maija Koskela, the 2013 scholar of Finnish Wagner Society (SWS) was awarded the first prize at the Lauritz Melchior singing competition, Denmark.

Publications & Books

Issues 43 and 44 of Wagneriaani (“The Wagnerian”), our members’ magazine, were distributed to all members and many international friends. You can find the web version at http://www.suomenwagnerseura. org/wagneriaani/index.html. Along with articles in Finnish there were also articles in English and German. The editor of the magazine is Mr. Robert Storm. Subscription 30 € per year.

Honorary Members

Ms. Anne Evans (Soprano) 1997, Mr. Jorma Hynninen (Baritone) 1998, Mr. Peter Bassett (Author) 2000, Mrs. Cecilia Rydinger-Alin (Conductor) 2001, Mr. Pentti Perksalo (Tenor) 2001, Mr. Matti Salminen (Bass) 2005, Mr. Heikki Siukola (Tenor) 2008, Mr. Leif Segerstam (Conductor and Composer) 2011. Honorary chairman Uolevi Karrakoski. Our first honorary member, Mr. Frank Shipway (Conductor), passed away in 2014.