How I hope that I know German, so I can apprecaite the rhythm and admire Wagner the great librettist! I am fully aware that I am not within the position as well as the authority to give an introduction of Wagner in China. It is a shame and an utter disappointment that up till now only Der fliegende Hollander has been performed in Shanghai(other cities I do not know), not to mention the poor casts and orchestra. China seems not to have a proper venue to stage gorgeous oparas like Wagner. Most people, yet, not seem to have been well prepared for such intellectual works psychologically. If we treat every grand opera like the way we do with Aida several months ago in Shanghai in a stadium, then there is no point enjoying classical music anymore--people do not go there for music, bel canto or art, people go there for fireworks and circus insead. Opera nuts find it easier to indulge in Madam Butterfly, Tosca, La traviata, Carmen. German operas, I have to admit, have been neglected. I study at TongJi University, which is the most famed one in China for its German education. Thus I can get more about German culture than others. I have to say that German culture is not such a strong tide as American or Japanese tides in China. However most classical music lovers are German-dominant. I once asked some pop fans whether they like German culture or not. I was replied"I have never heard more unbearable pop music than German ones." Maybe the modern German tend to find a sophisticated balance between their abundant musical heritage and Bach-influenced creativity. Some friends of mine are insane Wagner fans. One of them shut himself from others in his own room, listening to Ring at a stretch for a week. I do not remember when I became to show interest in Wagner. I think it is quite natural. First you are attracted by lyrical melodies like To Alice and Moonlight by Beethoven, then the epics of the Fifth and the Ninth Symphony. Then you turn to both sides--backward to Mozart, Haydn and Bach..., forward to Mendelssohn, Brahms, Schumann and finally, inevitably, you come to Wagner Mahler and Bruckner. So far Wagner is prohibited in Isreal but not in China. Somehow it always occurs to me that to some extent we are among the most endurable races in the world. Never there has been a people suffering so much as we Chinese,even the Jews--Qing Dynasty government's corruption first, imperialists occupation then, the Japanese's War followed, which bear uncurable wound in our minds. Yet for the time being the Japanese culture is the most popoular and admirable chic in China. I like Wagner. I love his operas. They are all reflections of human beings. Vanity, lust, carnal desire, loft, materialism and moneterilism, actually every facet of mankind whatever good or evil, can all be deceived in his opera, especially in Der Ring des Nibelungen. But recently the struggle towards power in Bayreuth among those Wagners appears to be even more dramatic cloak and sword than operas. Those Wagners are besmirching their family names. I originally tended to go to Salzburg this summer for a ten-day's trip. But because I did not do well in my final exam, my mother refused to fund me. I'd better stay at home and modify my webpage. Would you provide some firsthand information about either the Bayreuth or the Salzburg Festspiele? Danke shone! Rudolf Tang http://www.classical.net.cn http://klassik.yeah.net