The International Association of Wagner Societies (Der Richard-Wagner-Verband International e.V., also known as "Der RWVI") is an affiliation of Wagner societies (Richard Wagner-Verband) that promotes interest and research into the works of Richard Wagner, raises funds for scholarships for young music students, singers, and instrumentalists, and supports the annual Bayreuth Festival. It also sponsors symposia, holds singing competitions for Wagnerian voices, and issues awards for stage direction and stagings of Wagner's operas. The association is a nonprofit organization, governed by a Presidium headed by a President, who are elected together quinquennially.International Association of the Wagner Societies. Union of International Associations.'Richard-Wagner-Verband International e.V. (RWVI)'. Deutscher Musikrat.
History
The first Richard Wagner society was launched in Mannheim, Germany in 1871, one year after the premiere of the German composer's opera Die Walküre ("The Valkyrie") in Munich. The brainchild of Wagner's longtime friend, the music publisher Emil Heckel, the first society was a simple, locally conceived venue for celebrating Wagner's music. In the wake of Wagner's difficulties in securing interest in the public subscription for his future Bayreuth Festival, Heckel suggested to the composer that he sponsor additional societies to help secure support. Wagner embraced the idea enthusiastically, and by 1872, societies had been established in Vienna, Berlin, Leipzig and London (the latter founded by Edward Dannreuther (1844–1905), the author of Richard Wagner: His Tendencies and Theories published in 1873).
Wagner's dream, as described in a letter written in 1882, was that his Bayreuth Festival would be free for everyone to attend, however this was never possible because of the extremely high costs to organize and produce it. Nonetheless, based on Wagner's desires, societies refocused their efforts and began making it possible for promising talented musicians to attend. Public interest in supporting subscriptions to fund scholarships was initially tepid, but from 1919 forward, the number of societies increased steadily.
The International Association of Wagner Societies was founded in 1991 in Lyon. Today, more than 15,500 members in 124 societies belong to the International Association of Wagner Societies around the globe. The number of groups under the organization's auspices has expanded considerably in the last fifty years. Wagner societies can be found in all parts of the world, including the Netherlands, Venice, Great Britain, Scotland, Shanghai, Tokyo, Lisbon, Melbourne, Adelaide, Ankara, New York City, Toronto, Cape Town, Bangkok, New Zealand, Puerto Rico, the Ottawa/Gatineau area, and since 1993, South Korea.Bae Ji-sook (). (2 June 2013). "Restoring Wagner’s legacy". The Korea Herald.Our Members: South Korea. richard-wagner.org - official website.
The societies are very diverse and offer a wide range of Wagner-related activities, including concerts, lectures, and publishing. The main organization holds a symposium called "Wagner Days in Venice" (Giornate Wagneriane a Venezia) in Italy each autumn.
Presidium
Elected for a five-year term by the 2024 Assembly of Delegates.RWVI Presidium. Official site. Harry Leutscher (Netherlands), President Christian Stürzl-Moitz (Germany), First Vice President Esther Lobato (Spain), Second Vice President Ada Vermeer-Janse (Netherlands), Treasurer Elizabeth Mollard (Belgium), Secretary Karin Colpan (Germany), Assessor national Michael Schmidt (Germany), Assessor national Thomas Winiarski (Germany), Assessor national Selma Guðmundsdóttir (Iceland), Assessor international Cyril Plante (France), Assessor international Derek Williams (Scotland), Assessor international
Presidents 2024–present: Harry Leutscher, Emmen 2019–2024: Rainer Fineske, Berlin 2015–2019: Horst Eggers, Bayreuth 2014–2015: Thomas Krakow, Leipzig 2008–2014: Eva Märtson, Hannover 1988–2008: Josef Lienhart, Freiburg i. Br. (1st President of RWVI) 1981–1988: Helmut Goldmann, Nürnberg 1968–1981: Mercedes Bahlsen, Hannover 1943–1968: Lotte Albrecht-Potonié, Hannover 1914–1943: Marianne Lange, Hannover 1909–1914: Margarethe Strauß, Magdeburg
Richard Wagner International Congress
Every year, members of the local Wagner Societies gather for the Richard Wagner International Congress to share experiences and to plan for the future in sessions. The congress takes place in a different city each year: 2026: AmsterdamPrevious Congresses: Amsterdam. 2026. Amsterdam. RWVI official site. 2025: Bayreuth (Assembly of Delegates)'Assembly of delegates, May 2025'. Bayreuth Festspielhaus. 2024: Berlin'Kongress/Congress/Congrès RWVI 2024, Berlin May/June'. wagnerverband-berlin.de/neu/contao/ website. 2023: BrusselsCONGRESS OF THE INTERNATIONAL VERBAND Richard Wagner. November 2–6. Brussels. cerclewagner.be website. 2019: VeniceWagner Society of New York: 2019 Richard-Wagner-Verband International Congress: November 28–December 1, 2019. Venice, Italy. 2018: InnsbruckPrevious Congresses: Innsbruck. 2018. Innsbruck. RWVI official site. 2017: Budapest 2016: Strasbourg 2015: Dessau 2014: Graz 2013: Leipzig 2012: Prague 2011: Wrocław 2010: Stralsund 2009: Dresden 2008: Geneva 2007: Weimar 2006: Tallinn and Helsinki 2005: Leipzig 2004: Augsburg 2003: Copenhagen 2002: Seville 2001: Freiburg im Breisgau 2000: Berlin 1990: Hannover 1986: Vienna
Congresses have also taken place in Frankfurt am Main, Bordeaux, Trier, and Budapest. As a result of the COVID pandemic, congresses planned between 2020 and 2022 in Bonn, Berlin and Madrid had to be cancelled. Originally scheduled to take place in early May in London, the 2024 Congress was moved by the RWVI, first to Madrid, then eventually took place in late May in Berlin, following organisational difficulties.‘THE WAGNER CONGRESSES’. Official website.
The 2026 Annual Conress is to take place from 19 to 22 February in Amsterdam.'RWVI Congress Amsterdam 2026'. Amsterdam.
See also Bayreuth Festival Irene Sloan, Wagner Society of Southern California founder Richard Wagner Ca' Vendramin Calergi (Venice association and Wagner Museum)
External links Wagner Verband official website – contains links or contact information for all individual societies. Richard-Wagner-Verband International e.V. - Facebook International Association of the Wagner Societies. Union of International Associations.
References