Bayreuth Festival confronts dark past with "Rienzi" staging at 150th anniversary

The Bayreuth Festival opens its 150th anniversary with Richard Wagner's "Rienzi," a work that carries a heavy historical burden. The opera, reportedly Adolf Hitler's favorite and whose overture was played at Nazi rallies, is being staged for the first time in the festival's history. Directors Alexandra Szemerédy and Magdolna Parditka, the first women to direct an opera at Bayreuth, view "Rienzi" as a "memorial" in an era of rising far-right extremism.

Before the premiere, two events are scheduled to honor Jewish musicians persecuted by the National Socialists. A memorial service in the festival park will feature an exhibition of their photographs, followed by a speech from Jewish publicist Michel Friedman at the Festspielhaus. These commemorative events initially faced cancellation, sparking public outcry and criticism from politicians. Following the backlash, the events were reinstated for the opening weekend.

The festival itself, founded 150 years ago by composer Richard Wagner, commenced with a performance of Beethoven's 9th Symphony. This same symphony was played at the laying of the foundation stone for the Bayreuth Festspielhaus in 1872, with Wagner himself conducting.

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Mahnmal