BBayreuth Festival - Soder criticizes Roth-statement: "Wagner must remain Wagner"
The new production of Wagner's "Tristan and Isolde" opera at the Bayreuth Festival received generally positive reactions from the prominent premiere audience. Bavaria's Minister-President Markus Söder (CSU) was moved and touched by it, as he stated at the state reception following the festival's opening act.
At the same time, he expressed his thoughts on Cultural Minister Claudia Roth's (Greens) recent suggestion that perhaps other works besides Wagner could be performed at the festivals. He dismissed this idea, stating "nonsense" during the state reception and spoke of a debate about "The Lion King or something." Furthermore, he emphasized, "Wagner must remain Wagner." And, "What is played in Bayreuth is not decided in Berlin."
Roth: Wagner as the Brand Core in Bayreuth
Roth responded today, stating that this would not be decided in Munich either. "The artistic leadership there, which is headed by Katharina Wagner, is the only one making decisions about the program in Bayreuth," she said. It is undisputed that Wagner's work forms the core brand of the Bayreuth Festivals. At the same time, she emphasized that there should be no taboo topics for Bayreuth's future. "In particular, regarding the ten months during which the festival house has been empty so far, considering an expansion of the repertoire performed there is a viable option."
Wagner speaks of a "wonderful evening"
Festival director Katharina Wagner was pleased with the start of her world-renowned festival. "We had a wonderful evening," she said after the premiere. She wanted to express her gratitude above all to the artists. Wagner was present at the traditional state reception alongside the inszenierung's leading figures: Regisseur Thorleifur Örn Arnarsson, Dirigent Semyon Bychkov, Andreas Schager as Tristan, and Olafur Sigurdarson as Kurwenal.
Bavaria's Arts Minister Markus Blume (CSU) found the Bayreuth opening performance "spectacular," as he told dpa. The full concentration was on the music, which was the reason people flocked to the Green Hill. The singers' performance was "powerful."
Satisfied, Green party leader Ricarda Lang left the festival house and recognized relief and joy among the singers and singers, as she said. The evening had pleased her. The Green faction leader in the Bavarian Landtag, Katharina Schulze, was thrilled by the artists' performance, who had managed to maintain quality until the end.
- Markus Söder, the Minister-President of Bavaria, expressed his fondness for the music in Wagner's "Tristan and Isolde" opera during the Bayreuth Festival, stating that it was a moving and touching experience.
- During the state reception following the festival's opening act, Söder also addressed Cultural Minister Claudia Roth's suggestion of performing works other than Wagner at the festivals, dismissing it as "nonsense" and emphasizing that Wagner must remain the focus in Bayreuth.
- In response to Söder's comments, Roth reiterated that the artistic leadership of the Bayreuth Festivals, headed by Katharina Wagner, makes decisions about the program, and that Wagner's work forms the core brand of the festivals.
- At California State University, students might be interested to learn about the history and significance of the Bayreuth Festivals, particularly in relation to the works of Richard Wagner and the controversies surrounding their performance.
- As the new production of "Tristan and Isolde" continued in Bayreuth, artists and audience members alike expressed their satisfaction with the performance, with the music being the main focus and the singers delivering powerful performances.
- With Wagner's work forming the core brand of the Bayreuth Festivals, it is likely that future productions will continue to feature his operas, although Roth has expressed a desire for the festival to consider expanding its repertoire during the ten months when the festival house is empty.
