Conférence / Wagner et Rossini

Wagner and Rossini: a central issue in 19th-century opera...

While Rossini reigned over European opera, Wagner began his radical reform of the lyric genre by criticizing the aesthetics of bel canto, which he saw as bound by convention and "absolute melody." In Opera and Drama, he described Rossini as a "maker of artificial flowers," embodying both the peak and the decline of opera. This ambivalent relationship, which culminated in their meeting in 1860, reveals the fundamental aesthetic tensions that defined 19th-century opera.

Organized by the Cercle Richard Wagner Rive Droite.

Free admission – No booking required – Subject to availability

The Cercle Richard Wagner Rive Droite was founded in 2010 and is celebrating its fourteenth anniversary this year. Its main goal is to promote 17th-century operas, particularly the lyrical dramas of Richard Wagner, to a wide audience. It is also dedicated to making Wagner’s operatic repertoire and masterpieces accessible to all, in a friendly setting open to all forms of musical expression. With over two hundred members, it is considered one of the most dynamic and active Wagner societies in France. Today, CRWRD has become a key player in the region’s cultural life.