Program Announcement for the Bayreuth Festival of 1953

"What might the above picture have to do with the topic of Beethoven and Wagner?", you might, perhaps, ask!  However, when you look at all the names that are printed on this announcement very closely, you the connection will become clear to you:  Since the re-opening of the Bayreuth Festival in the summer of 1951, it has become a tradition to begin it with the performance of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony.  In this way, the names of Wagner and Beethoven come together.  The bridge into the 20th century is built by the name of the composer Paul Hindemith (who was to conduct the Ninth in Bayreuth in 1953), whose opera  "Mathis der Maler" Wilhelm Furtwängler, the Bayreuth Beethoven conductor of 1951, wanted to stage in the 1930's during the Third Reich but who was prevented by the authorities from doing so.  I gladly leave it to you and your own reflection to ponder the cross-connections and ramifications of all of this.

Through the thus established connection between Beethoven, Wagner and Furtwängler, you might also be once again reminded of the Fidelio Comments Page that has recently been introduced in this web site, in which it also the differing views of Wagner and Furtwängler with respect to the Leonore-Overtures No. 2 and 3 were discussed. From this could already be seen that Wagner dealt with Beethoven not only as a practicing musician but also as a musical writer.

To what extent Wagner dealt with Beethoven both as a musical writer and critic as well as a conductor and composer is certainly worthy of being investigated by us in an exploration of a different kind.  We begin this exploration with the pages briefly described below in the links section and are hope that you will enjoy this exploration in the spirit in which it is presented.

All underlined links can already be accessed!  With respect to Beethoven's Wagner essay of 1870, it should be pointed out that we have already added a half-completed English version of it, the completion of which will follow, soon.  Your investigation of some background information as suggested below might provide you with some interesting exploration, in the meantime!

Richard Wagner	ILLUSTRATED TIME TABLE This page will present you with the most important facts of Wagner's personal and creative life in an entertaining way.  For this purpose, we have added as much pictorial material as possible.  All details related to Beethoven and to Wagner's development of the ideas presented in his Beethoven essay of 1870 are presented in bold and italics.
"Walküre"Stage Photo of  1870	GENERAL LINKS TO THE SUBJECT OF WAGNER   This compilation of links offers you access to many excellent web sites related to the work and life of Richard Wagner.
Fr. Nietzsche	SPECIFIC LINKS ON THE SUBJECT WAGNER As a preparation for your reading of Wagner's essay presented below, we would recommend the reading of the material contained in this web site.  The depth and wealth of material  presented here will not only surprise you but also provide you with background information for your further readings here.  (We should point out that the articles that are available in the English language on this German site would require a reading level of Grade 10 and up, for student readers, due to the mature subject matters discussed therein).
	WAGNERS BEETHOVEN WRITINGS As the first work, we are presenting Wagner's "Beethoven" essay from 1870 .  As intelligent readers, you will be able to evaluate this essay including its chauvinistic national tone that no longer appeals to any modern taste in the way it should be "appreciated", today.  With respect to all other peculiarities of this essay, Wagner is as much part of the 19th century development as it can already be seen in the information provided in our above-described time table.

BACK TO THE COMPOSERS' PAGE!

BACK TO THE MAIN PAGE!