When does the event start?

The event starts on 24.09.2026 at 19:30.

Where is the evening taking place?

The venue is KUFA at Ohmstr. 3, 96050 Bamberg.

How much is the admission?

Admission is free, even for non-members.

What is the content about?

The focus is on Richard Wagner's connections to Russia, his biography, the reception of his works, and the cultural relations between Germany and Russia.

Is there a reference to a book?

Yes, Eckart Kröplin will present his book Richard Wagner and Russia, published in 2025.

Is the event suitable for a broad audience?

Yes, it is aimed at Wagner enthusiasts, cultural friends, and anyone interested in music history and literary-cultural debates.

An insightful evening about Wagner, Russia, and Europe's cultural fault lines

Name: Wagner and Russia
Start: 2026-09-24T19:30:00+02:00
End: 2026-09-24T21:00:00+02:00
Location: KUFA

Wagner and Russia: An Evening about Music, Power, and European Memory

With “Wagner and Russia”, a topic that goes far beyond classical reading is brought to the forefront in Bamberg. Music and theater scholar Eckart Kröplin will open the evening together with an informed discussion partner from RWV Bamberg, providing new insights into Richard Wagner's biography, his connections to Russia, and the cultural reception history between Germany and Russia.

When Wagner Meets Russia

The lecture introduces a tension field of European cultural history, where biographical milestones, political ruptures, and aesthetic frictions intersect. Kröplin presents Wagner not as a monument, but as a historical figure in motion: as a conductor in Riga, as a comrade of Mikhail Bakunin, as a traveler to St. Petersburg and Moscow, and as a composer whose work was enthusiastically received yet controversially negotiated in Russia.

A Book that Connects Expertise and Contemporary Relevance

The event refers to Kröplin's book Richard Wagner and Russia, published in 2025, which according to the event announcement was chosen by the specialist magazine Opernwelt as the Book of the Month. This gives the evening literary and musical-theoretical depth, as well as cultural relevance: it questions reception, cultural proximity and distance, and the role of art in times of geopolitical tensions.

Reading Atmosphere in the KUFA

The KUFA at Ohmstraße 3 in Bamberg provides the appropriate setting: a place for open conversations, focused listening, and direct author encounters. The evening emphasizes dialogue, arguments, and collaborative reflection on opera reception, music history, and German-Russian cultural interconnections. This is where the special literary quality of this format lies: not just a lecture, but a lively conversation about a work and its world.

What Visitors Can Expect

Visitors will experience a well-founded introduction to Wagner's image of Russia, his impact on Russian stages, and the historical ruptures that resonate to this day. Admission is free, making access low-threshold and inviting. Anyone interested in Wagner, music history, cultural discourse, and sophisticated lecture formats will find a concentrated and stimulating literary and cultural event here.

Conclusion: This evening combines scientific precision with cultural historical tension. Those who want to experience Wagner beyond known clichés should take the opportunity to attend live at KUFA Bamberg.