The seventh and final seminar in the series ‘Opera as Imagination and Realisation’, subtitled ‘Challenge Wagner’, will take place at the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre on 19–20 November 2026.

The seminar will focus on Richard Wagner and, in particular, his four-opera cycle Der Ring des Nibelungen, which celebrates the 150th anniversary of its complete premiere this year. The first opera in the cycle, Das Rheingold, was staged in Estonia for the first time by Vanemuine Theatre at the Saaremaa Opera Days.

The seminar will examine different interpretations of Wagner’s work, including Joachim Herz’s groundbreaking Leipzig production (1973–1976), a contemporary staging in Munich by Tobias Kratzer, one of today’s leading opera directors, and Michiel Dijkema’s production at Vanemuine, conducted by Risto Joost. These productions will be discussed by Julia Glänzel (Theatre Department, Archives of the Akademie der Künste, Berlin), dramaturg Bettina Bartz (Berlin) and Risto Joost. The first day will conclude with a discussion.

The second day will explore Wagner’s influence on 20th-century and contemporary music theatre, with a presentation by Kerri Kotta. Composers and Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre alumni Giovanni Albini and Tze Yeung Ho will introduce their works for the stage.

The first opera seminar took place in 2019 to mark the opening of the Joachim Herz Room at the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre. The room houses Herz’s extensive library and record collection.

The seminar will take place on 19 November from 14:00 to 18:00 and on 20 November from 10:00 to 13:30 in the Tower Hall (D511) of the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre (Tatari 13, Tallinn). The seminar will be held in English.

The seminar is organised as part of the Estonian Doctoral School.

You can find the seminar programme HERE