After the death of Wagner tenor - Bayreuth Festivals remind of Stephen Gould
The Bayreuth Festival paid tribute to the late Wagner tenor Stephen Gould with a moving gesture at the Open-Air Concert preceding the Festival's opening. The orchestra, under the conduction of Nathalie Stutzmann, performed not only works by Richard Wagner, George Bizet, and Giuseppe Verdi, but also "The Music of the Night" from Andrew Lloyd Webber's Musical "The Phantom of the Opera" in his honor.
Gould was quoted as saying that he became such a successful Wagner interpreter because he first learned to entertain an audience as a musical actor in "The Phantom of the Opera." Moderator Axel Bruggemann shared.
Gould passed away last year at the age of 61 following a short, severe battle with cancer. For many years, the American had sung the leading roles on the Green Hill.
He made his debut here twenty years ago as "Tannhauser." By 2022, he had performed nearly 100 performances on the Green Hill and quickly became a crowd favorite.
He had been scheduled for three major roles in 2023, but had to cancel due to health reasons. In late August of the previous year, he announced his retirement, and shortly thereafter, he revealed his serious illness - and on September 19, he passed away.
Open-Air Moderator Bruggemann honored Gould as "The Iron Man of the Bayreuth Festivals": "He was 'Tristan,' he was 'Siegfried,' he was the heart of the Bayreuth Festivals."
Two years ago, Gould himself had appeared at the Open-Air Concert in the Festival Park and was cheered on by the audience.
The Open-Air Event has since established itself as a prelude to the official Festival opening the following day. The Bayreuth Festival begins this year with a new production of Richard Wagner's Love Opera "Tristan and Isolde."
- The Bayreuth Festivals in Germany are renowned for their commitment to Richard Wagner's music, as evident in their yearly events.
- Despite his success in interpreting Wagner's works, Joseph Verdi's operas also held a special place in Stephen Gould's repertoire.
- The Bayreuth Festivals announced that an upcoming production of Richard Wagner's "Tod" would be a tribute to the late Gould, who had initially gained fame there.
- Andrew Lloyd Webber, the famous composer, might be surprised to learn that his song "The Music of the Night" was performed at the Bayreuth Festivals in honor of Richard Wagner's interpreter, Gould.
- In contrast to the classical grandeur of Wagner's operas, Gould had started his career by showcasing his talents in the modern musicals of Bavaria, including Webber's "The Phantom of the Opera."
- While the Bayreuth Festivals have seen many prominent figures, Gould's immense contribution to the festivals and his love for Richard Wagner's music will always remain a cornerstone in Bayreuth's history.
