The Bayreuth Festival has announced that it is dissolving its chorus. At the end of the season, the company noted that chorus members would have to re-audition for a slot in the new smaller ensemble. The news comes after the festival announced a new chorus director Thomas Eitler – de Lint after Eberhard Friedrich announced he was leaving earlier than {…}
The Bayreuth Festival has unveiled its 2025 season. The season opens with “Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg” starring Michael Spyres, Georg Zeppenfeld, Christina Nilsson, Christa Mayer, and Matthias Stier. Daniele Gatti conducts and Matthias Davids directs. Performance Dates: July 25 – August 22, 2025 Valentin Schwarz’s “Das Rheingold” will be conducted by Simone Young and features Tomas Konieczny, Olafur Sigurdarson, Daniele Behle, {…}
(Courtesy of Bayreuth Festival) The Bayreuth Festival has announced plans for the 2026 season. The company noted that it would celebrate its 150th anniversary with a special Ring Cycle. The festival noted that while Valentin Schwarz’s 2022 staging of the four-night “Der Ring des Nibelungen” will be revived for the final time in 2025, 2026 will be “not purely a {…}
(Credit: Courtesy of the Bayreuth Festival) The Bayreuth Festival has found a new Chorus director. The company said that, “After an intensive search and numerous discussions with potential candidates, the Bayreuth Festival announces that Thomas Eitler – de Lint will become the new Director of the Bayreuth Festival Chorus, succeeding Eberhard Friedrich, who will reach retirement age in 2025.” Eitler {…}
Eberhard Friedrich has resigned from his position as Chorus Director. The chorus director, who has been at the helm of the chorus since 2000, presented his resignation days before the festival ended and a year before his contract ended in 2025. According to reports, Friedrich was upset at the reduced chorus which saw 134 chorus members reduced to 115 of {…}
The Bayreuth Festival has announced a cast change for its production of “Parsifal” on August 7, 2024. In a statement, Andreas Schager said, “My dear friends, Unfortunately, due to an infection, I have to cancel tonight’s performance of ‘Parsifal.’ I would like to sincerely apologize to anyone who bought tickets for this because of me. This inflammation also made me {…}
The Bayreuth Festival has announced that Pablo Heras-Casado will conduct the new Ring Cycle in 2028. The festival did not confirm who was directing the production but did note that the Heras-Casado is returning to the podium this season for a production of “Parsifal.” Heras-Casado’s relationship with Richard Wagner began in 2016 with “Der Fliegende Holländer” at the Teatro Real and {…}
The Bayreuth Festival has announced a cast change for its production of “Tristan und Isolde.” The company said, “Due to a prolonged illness, Ekaterina Gubanova was unable to attend the necessary rehearsals for the new production of ‘Tristan und Isolde.’ The role of Brangäne will therefore be taken over by Christa Mayer.” The company added, “Ekaterina Gubanova will sing the {…}
Katharina Wagner has renewed her contract with the Bayreuth Festival. In a statement, the festival said, “Minister of State Blume, Minister of State Roth, and Prof Katharina Wagner agreed on the further structural development of the Festival. The future festival management from 2025 should be able to concentrate fully on its artistic work.” It added, “It has been agreed that {…}
The Bayreuth Festival has announced a conductor change for its “Ring des Nibelungen.” The company said, “Festival Director Prof. Katharina Wagner has succeeded in recruiting Simone Young to conduct the ‘Ring des Nibelungen,’ as Philippe Jordan had to cancel the conducting of the Bayreuth Ring, which he had been looking forward to with great pleasure, much to his regret. Other {…}
The Bayreuth Festival has announced that due to rising costs, it will cut its chorus by 40 percent. The organization said that the reduction will begin during its 2024 season and according to Platea Magazine, the chorus will be reduced from 134 to 80 members. Additionally, the festival noted that as its state subsidies will not increase and additional financial requirements {…}