Daniel Barenboim has become the first honorary member in the 150-year history of the Bayreuth Festival.

In a statement the famed conductor said, “Thank you to Wagner Festival for this beautiful honor and to my wonderful friends and colleagues, especially Simone Young and Waltraud Meier, for their moving tributes.”

Barenboim made his Bayreuth debut in 1981 and conducted there until 1999, leading performances of “Tristan und Isolde,” “Parsifal,” “Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg” and “Der Ring des Nibelungen.” He also led the Ring Cycle five consecutive Festival seasons from 1988 to 1992..

He was well known for collaborating with Waltraud Meier and led her in the 1993 “Tristan und Isolde” production staged by Heiner Müller.

 

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