Festivals - More than 20,000 visitors at Nibelungenfestspiele
At the conclusion of the Nibelungen-Festspiele, the organizers drew a positive balance. "With a total of over 20,000 visitors and an occupancy rate of 87 percent, the Festspiele 2024 were once again a remarkable success," it was stated. "Despite the great challenges posed by the weather, all performances took place and were played to the end." The Nibelungen-Festspiele will end on Sunday with a final performance of the anti-war play "The Diplomat" in front of the historical Cathedral in Worms on the Rhine.
In the play, the ensemble around "Tatort" detective Jasna Fritzi Bauer approaches the medieval heroic epic from a contemporary perspective as Kriemhild. Amid geopolitical crises, such as in Ukraine, the question is raised as to how a war can be prevented, which no one wants - but which seems inevitable. The play by author duo Feridun Zaimoglu and Günter Senkel will be shown on a stage covered in mud and blood.
"It's great that Roger Vontobel has been won over as a director again for the Festspiele," explained Nico Hofmann, Intendant of the Nibelungen-Festspiele, and the artistic director Thomas Laue. It was pleasing that "The Diplomat" had also been discussed and perceived as politically relevant. "This once again shows that a broadly effective festival and content-relevant theater do not have to be mutually exclusive."
Theater as a Contribution to Democracy Education
The Mayor of the City Worms, Adolf Kessel, added: "In this year with very topical themes in the play, the Nibelungen-Festspiele have shown how relevant and important theater and culture are as a basis for an open dialogue culture, as a debating forum, and thus also for democracy education."
The Festspiele under the leadership of former Ufa boss Nico Hofmann have been taking place since 2002. The Nibelungenlied about dragon-slayer Siegfried and his murderer Hagen is considered one of the favorite sagas of the Germans. One of the founders of the Festspiele was acting legend Mario Adorf (93, "Kir Royal").
- The final performance of the Nibelungen-Festspiele in 2024 will take place at the historical Cathedral in Worms, Germany, on the Rhine, featuring a modern interpretation of "The Diplomat" by author duo Feridun Zaimoglu and Günter Senkel.
- Despite the weather challenges, all performances during the Festspiele in Rhineland-Palatinate were completed, with renowned director Roger Vontobel leading one of the plays, "The Diplomat."
- Nico Hofmann, Intendant of the Nibelungen-Festspiele, expressed his satisfaction with the political relevance of the play, emphasizing that a successful festival and content-relevant theater are not mutually exclusive.
- Adolf Kessel, the Mayor of Worms, acknowledged the importance of the Nibelungen-Festspiele as a debating forum and a basis for an open dialogue culture, playing a crucial role in democracy education.
- Since its inception in 2002, the Festspiele in Germany, under the leadership of former Ufa boss Nico Hofmann, have showcased the timeless Nibelungenlied, a favorite German saga, incorporating elements of both traditional and contemporary storytelling.
