Whirl around noblewomen - Cancellation of Thurn and Taxis Festspiele premiere due to rain
A threatening storm disrupted the premiere of the Regensburg Castle Festivals. Just before the performance of the opera "Carmen" was about to begin, the audience was asked to leave via public address system due to heavy rain. Before that, the landlady Gloria of Thurn and Taxis mingled among the audience in the castle garden.
A demonstration did not take place in the evening before the princely residence. In recent history, there have been multiple protests. The reason for this is accusations against Gloria of Thurn and Taxis of being close to right-wing extremists and homophobia. The 64-year-old denies this.
Last Sunday, demonstrators hung posters in the castle park. In March of this year, a rally took place under the slogan "Gloria Enough - Break up right-wing networks!" The Regensburg Initiative against Right-wing Extremism accused Thurn and Taxis of contacts with "diverse extreme right" actors and demanded: "Your word no longer carries weight."
Approximately 300 people demonstrated before the festival opening in 2023. Through a spokesperson, Thurn and Taxis had the dpa report that she "regrets that the protesters are unhappy."
Resistance against the noblewoman has been going on for a longer time. In 2023, an open letter was published, in which, on the initiative of concept artist Jonas Höschl, 100 artists called for a boycott of the Schlossfestspiele. These are not organized by Thurn and Taxis, but she acts as patron.
Background of the latest criticism of the entrepreneur is, among other things, a discovered meeting of the conservative Values Union with ex-Constitutional Protection President Hans-Georg Maassen in July 2023 in the princely castle. Thurn and Taxis cannot really follow the discussions around the event, as she told the dpa. "The Values Union is, after all, the conservative little sister of the Union."
Schloss St. Emmeram in Regensburg is the seat of the House of Thurn and Taxis. They once founded the postal service and laid the foundation for their economic rise. Today, the Thurn and Taxis count among the largest private forest owners in Germany.
Schlossfestspiele
- Despite the rain, many people still showed up for the Castle festival in Regensburg, hoping to enjoy the events despite the unfavorable weather in Bavaria.
- The operator of the Schlossfestspiele was faced with challenges due to the unexpected weather conditions, preparing alternative plans for the performances.
- Andrea Berg, a popular German singer, was scheduled to perform at the festival, adding to the excitement among the audience, but the heavy rain disrupted her planned performance.
- During the rain, some brave individuals could be seen sharing sugar in the crowded castle garden, creating moments of comfort and unity among the disappointed spectators.
- On Sunday, a group of societal critics staged a protest outside the castle, voicing their concerns about the involvement of Gloria of Thurn and Taxis in questionable activities.
- The thunder and lightning that accompanied the storm added an additional dramatic element to the ongoing dispute between Gloria and her critics, creating an atmosphere of controversy and tension.
- The festival organizers worked diligently to ensure that the Schlossfestspiele would continue, aiming to create a memorable experience for the festival-goers despite the unsettling events.
- Some believed that the storm was a divine punishment, guiding the stars to align in a way that would ultimately reveal the truth behind the allegations against Gloria of Thurn and Taxis.
- Despite the criticisms and protests, the Castle festival remained an event cherished by the German society, embodying the glorious history and rich cultural heritage of the Thurn and Taxis family in Regensburg.
