This week the Bayreuth Festival will open its 2026 season with “Rienzi,” a work that the festival has never performed. For the production, festival has aligned some of the greatest Wagnerians currently singing. Heading the charge will be Andreas Schager, one of the premiere tenors of the repertoire.

Schager has performed the role for many years first in June 2011 at the Theater Meiningen and since then has sung it at the Deutsche Oper Berlin, Teatro Real in Madrid, Rome Opera and with the Hamburg State Opera.

Over the years Schager has been one of the most in demand heldentenors of his generation performing every major Wagner role and receiving acclaim for his interpretations. He has received raves for his “no fear at full pelt” approach to Siegfried and for his rich voice in “Tristan und Isolde.”  Now with Rienzi, he gets to show Bayreuth audiences another side of his Wagnerian colors.

And for those not in Bayreuth, the opera will be screened worldwide. Schager will also bring his Parsifal to Bayreuth and later in the season will reprise his Siegfried in “Gotterdammerung” in Paris and London.

Recordings 

Here is Schager as Rienzi from the Teatro Real de Madrid for those unfamiliar with the work.