Wagner singing in the 21st century - historically informed. A knowledge transfer project with Concerto Köln

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Anno Mungen
• Subject Area: Musicology ; Theatre and Media Studies
• Term: since 2020
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 438068239

The project "Wagner singing in the 21st century - historically informed. A knowledge transfer project with Concerto Köln" is devoted to historically informed opera singing in the 21st century. As part of the methodology ‚Artistic Research‘, it develops possibilities for the vocal performance of Wagnerian roles that include and develop further the performance. The task of developing adequate vocal strategies for a planned historically informed concert performance of Der Ring des Nibelungen is based on the Thurnau research outcome on opera singing in the 19th century. Together with the application partner Concerto Köln and the conductor Kent Nagano, a scientific-artistic program with workshops, concerts and publications has been developed in four modules. Module 1 is devoted to the scientific reflection of artistic processes and will result in a multimedia essay, book publications and program-booklet-articles. Module 2 consists of three three-day workshops in which the strategies of singing are tested in scientific and artistic collaboration, while Module 3 includes three orchestral concerts in the Philharmonie Köln, culminating in the performance of the Rheingold and the Walküre. Module 4 will deal with the scenic and performative aspects of Wagnerian singing and will include a conference.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants (Transfer Project)
• Application Partner: Concerto Köln GbR