Founded in 1975 by Dorothy Graziani with the support of Dr. Boyd Neel, the Toronto Wagner Society is a non-profit organization of people with a common love of the music dramas of Richard Wagner. The Society's objective is to encourage interest in, study of, and further presentation of the music-drams of Wagner. The Society meets monthly and organizes various events (lectures, interviews, video screenings, roundtable discussions, debates, and reviews). Their newsletter, Wagner News, is issued to members 3-4 times per year and features articles, reviews, and information about Wagner performances worldwide. The Society also maintains a scholarship to support young singers.
Past chairs of the Society are: Dorothy Graziani (1975-1981); Eric Domville (1981-1985); Hans de Groot (1985-1990); Frances Henry (1990-1996, 2007-); Linda and Michael Hutcheon (1996-1999); Wayne Gooding (1999-2001); Helmut Reichenbächer (1999-2003); Richard Rosenman (2001-2005); Jim Fisher (2003-2007); Yvonne Chiu (2005-2009); and Lorne Albaum (2009-2013).
Published
Fonds consists of newsletters and ephemera produced by the Toronto Wagner Society.
Fonds is arranged into four series: (A) Newsletters; (B) Programs for special events and concerts; (C) Agendas, minutes, and memorandums; and (D) Brochures and historical information on the Toronto Wagner Society. Most series are arranged chronologically.
Donated to the Music Library by Brian Corman, first treasurer of the Toronto Wagner Society (A2022-07). Further accruals possible.
Published
Series consists of issues of the newsletter issued by the Toronto Wagner Society. The newsletter, issued 3-4 times per year to the Society membership features articles, reviews, overview of events organized by the Society, and information about Wagner performances worldwide. The newsletter was initially titled "Society Notes". In September 1989, it was renamed "Wagner News" with volume and issue numbers (starting at vol. 1, no. 1).
Missing vol. 3, no. 2 (1991-1992); vol. 4, no. 3 (1992-1993).
Published
Series consists of various programs for concerts and recitals presented by the Toronto Wagner Society (TWS), including their annual birthday programme for Richard Wagner, and conferences on Wagner arranged by the TWS in cooperation with the Canadian Opera Company, Toronto Arts and Letters Club, and the University of Toronto. Performers at TWS concerts include: Jean MacPhail, mezzo-soprano ; Richard Fisher, piano ; Kathleen Brett, soprano ; Cori Martin, mezzo-soprano ; Hannibal Hamlin, baritone ; Stephanie Martin, piano ; Michael Aspinall, soprano ; Courtney Kenny, piano ; Anna Russell, soprano and piano ; Celine Papizewska, soprano ; Jackie Lynn Fidlar, mezzo-soprano, and Robin Wheeler, piano ; Robert Martin-Reid, tenor ; Sandra Horst, piano ; Leslie Ann Bradley, soprano ; Stephen Ralls, piano ; Stephen Erickson, tenor ; Andrea Grant, piano.
Programs are arranged in chronological order.
Collection of programs is incomplete.
Published
Series consists of agendas and minutes for the Toronto Wagner Society's meetings, treasurer's reports, and correspondence regarding the administrative operations of the Society (room bookings and guests). Series also includes a membership list from 1986, and a copy of the Society's constitution.
Series is incomplete.
Published
Series consists of brochures on the Toronto Wagner society, blank membership cards, blank letterhead, and Brian Corman's notes on the history of the society, including past chairs, speakers, and performers for the Society's annual Wagner birthday concert.