(Credit: picture alliance/Nicolas Armer/dpa)

The Director of the Bayreuth Festival, Katharina Wagner, has revealed initial plans for the 2021 edition of the festival.

First off, Wagner announced that the event will feature fewer performances than usual. In addition to the new production of “Der Fliegende Holländer” with Oksana Lyniv, the first female conductor in festival history, the program for 2021 includes the revivals of  “Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg” and “Tannhäuser.” Additionally, up to three performances of “Die Walküre” should be made possible. The full “Der Ring des Nibelungen” cycle is expected to be on the festival schedule in 2022, in the new production by Valentin Schwarz.

However, the production of Wagner’s “Lohengrin” has been postponed until 2022. The main reason for the postponement is the chorus, as Katharina Wagner believes COVID-19 will still be present in the summer of 2021, thus making it impossible to present works that heavily rely on the chorus. Even in 2022, the choral ensemble will be broadcast live from the choir hall.

Putting things into perspective, Katharina Wagner stated that in 2021 “everyone should have the opportunity to feel like young Siegfried and to experience an encounter with a dragon.” Bavarian Art Minister Bernd Sibler called the 2021 edition of the festival “a sign of hope.”