Wahnfried – The Birth of the Wagner Cult
On 29 April 2025 at 6.30pm, we are honoured to welcome Polly Graham, the Artistic Director of Longborough Festival Opera, for a virtual fireside chat on her artistic practice and the upcoming production of “Wahnfried: The Birth of the Wagner Cult” which will be running from 27 May to 14 June 2025. Polly will be in discussion Prof. Richard Bell from the University of Nottingham.
What happens to an artist’s work after their death? Who controls the narrative?
This major new opera by Avner Dorman, with a libretto by acclaimed playwrights Lutz Hübner and Sarah Nemitz, begins with the death of Richard Wagner and spans forty years of history. Opera goers will witness the Wagner family’s determination to construct the myth of the composer, their brutal infighting and their disturbing political affiliations. It will receive its UK premiere at Longborough in 2025. The world premiere was presented alongside the Karlsruhe Ring in 2017 and was nominated for a prestigious International Opera Award in the Best New Opera category.
As Artistic Director of Longborough Festival Opera, Polly has played a key role in redefining the festival, making it more engaging and accessible while introducing new talent and fresh approaches. Under her leadership, the festival has produced works that connect with modern audiences while respecting opera’s classical roots.
Polly Graham made her debut at the Vienna State Opera in 2019, directing the world premiere of Olga Neuwirth’s “Orlando”. Her recent projects include “Il Piccolo Principe” at La Scala, “Così fan tutte” for Irish National Opera, “The Fairy Queen” for Longborough Festival Opera, and “The Rake’s Progress” for English Touring Opera.
Richard Bell is Professor at the University of Nottingham in the Department of Philosophy. Richard is investigating the theological, ethical, and artistic interests of the composer Richard Wagner. He has just completed a two-volume work exploring the theology of the Ring cycle, Wagner’s work and its relationship to Christianity.
Please note that registration is necessary for the event. Only logged-in members of the BGA will be able to see the Zoom registration link (starting https://) below. Once you have logged in to your BGA account, please navigate back to this page via the “Events” tab on the menu bar and register below. If you are still unable to see the Zoom registration link after logging in, please check your membership is up-to-date or contact us. This event is a virtual fire side chat where attendees can leave their cameras on if they wish and participate in the discussion directly.
