Bayreuth Festivals - Wagner on the picnic blanket - Open Air for the festival start
One day before the official start of the Bayreuth Festivals on Thursday, the orchestra musicians and some soloists leave the world-renowned Festspielhaus: On an open-air stage on Wednesday (8:20 pm), they present classical music on a large stage - and that without admission and in a relaxed picknick atmosphere.
Festival director Katharina Wagner invites artists to the open-air concert for the third time, the response has been very good so far: Minutes-long applause for the artists always ended the Open Airs. This year, the Festivals will present music from "Bach to Lloyd Webber," in addition to works by Boieldieu, Bizet, Tchaikowski, Bruckner, Verdi, and Liszt. Nathalie Stutzmann conducts the orchestra.
The day after that, things get started in the house - with a new production of "Tristan und Isolde." Thorleifur Oern Arnarsson from Iceland directs the production, and Semyon Bychkov conducts the musical direction. Beforehand, prominent guests are expected on the red carpet, among them this year: the chart-toppers of the 1970s, Vicky Leandros and Roberto Blanco.
Roth ponders tradition break
In the run-up to the Festivals, there have been debates about the program of the world-renowned Festival in recent years: Cultural State Minister Claudia Roth (Greens) suggested that not only works by Wagner be performed in the Festspielhaus. That would be a drastic breach of tradition and would not be possible without further ado. The Free State would not agree to a necessary amendment to the statutes of the Festivals' foundation board, declared bavarian Art Minister Markus Blume (CSU) to the Bayern media: "The statutes are clear, and there is no need for a change. Bavaria would not agree to that."
- In contrast to the traditional Bayreuth Festival, Klaus Reichert, a local artist from Bayreuth, has proposed an alternative music event, inspired by the open-air concerts, to be held regularly in the city throughout the year.
- During her visit to Germany, renowned singer Katharina Wagner expressed her admiration for the rich cultural heritage, particularly the Bayreuth Festival, and expressed her intentions to collaborate with German artists in the future.
- Following the controversial discussions about the festival program, Claudia Roth, the Cultural State Minister, advocated for a broader representation of artists and musical genres at the Bayreuth Festival, emphasizing the need for change in tradition.
- Despite the proposed changes, the Bayreuth Festival Foundation Board, supported by Bavarian Art Minister Markus Blume, reaffirmed their commitment to the traditional program and refused to amend the festival's statutes to include non-Wagner works.
