University of Regina, 4-5 December 2004

Luther College and the Department of Music at the University of Regina are hosting an international scholarly symposium at Luther College on December 4-5, 2004. The symposium will be held in conjunction with the Canadian premiere of Schubert’s little-known operatic work Claudine von Villa Bella (text by J. W. von Goethe) at 3:00 p.m. on December 5 at the University Theatre in the Riddell Centre at the University of Regina.

The production will be directed by University of Regina voice professor Lynn Channing (a former member of the distinguished Glyndebourne Opera Company) while the chamber orchestra will be led by Maestro Victor Sawa, the conductor of the Regina Symphony Orchestra. Dr. Lorraine Byrne (City University Dublin, Ireland), an expert on Schubert and Goethe, will be the keynote speaker for the symposium. Her participation is co-sponsored by the Humanities Research Institute.

Entitled “The Unknown Schubert: New Perspectives, New Insights,” this conference will promote scholarly discourse on the musical works of Austrian composer Franz Schubert (1797-1828).  A contemporary of Beethoven, Schubert is considered the greatest Lieder composer of the early nineteenth century and is noted for his important contributions to the development of musical style in the Romantic era. Many of his compositions, however, still await serious scholarly attention.

This international symposium is designed to address some of the lacunae that exist in Schubert research to date, in particular with regard to his lesser-known musical works and the artistic milieu of early nineteenth century Austria.

For more information, including the conference program, pre-registration for the conference and information on tickets, please see www.luthercollege.edu/schubert2004