The Wagner Problem: Performance and Programming in the 21st Century

Seattle Opera Podcast

Richard Wagner is once again making an appearance on the Seattle Opera stage, renewing questions about the controversial composer’s compatibility with contemporary social values. Wagner’s objectionable views and dominant position in the opera canon have long vexed opera lovers, prompting some to wonder what role Wagner should play for modern opera companies.

Join esteemed musicologists and music critics from around the globe as they reflect on the ethics of performing Wagner in the 21st century and envision a more equitable model for classical music. The conversation will address how opera companies might present works by problematic artists, as well as what they can do more broadly to diversify programming. What gets the privilege of being called classical music, and what gets left out of that definition? What role should opera companies play in the cultivation of new music? And how can we find a balance between traditional works and overlooked voices?