Date/Time
Saturday 29 Oct 2016
3:00 pm to 5:30 pm
Location
Queensland Multicultural Centre
Presented by : Dr Peter Bassett
The Adelaide ‘Wagner Decade’ 1995-2005 represented one of the most exciting initiatives in the production of Wagner’s works in Australian history. With the staging of the hired Châtelet Ring in 1998 (the first complete performances in this country since 1913), Parsifal in 2001 (the Australian premiere staging), and the superb Ring of 2004 (the first Australian-created production – in which our Patron, Lisa Gasteen, gave outstanding performances as Brünnhilde ), there was an expectation in political and operatic circles that Adelaide would become the region’s ‘Wagner city’ after the model of Seattle.
Peter Bassett was closely associated with all three productions and with the political and artistic forces involved. Indeed, few other individuals were able to witness these developments from so many perspectives, culminating in his roles as Artistic Administrator and Dramaturg for the 2004 Ring. These history-making events and their aftermath were the subject of Peter’s doctoral thesis, for which his PhD was awarded by the Queensland Conservatorium, Griffith University in July this year. Peter’s presentation will include documentary footage of all three productions, including of rehearsals and staging.