Unlike in the classical world, women are responsible for the fate of the festival in Bayreuth. But only now, after 145 years, is there a woman at the conductor’s desk.
The Bayreuth Festival plays a special role in the small men’s world of classical music. They were founded by a man, Richard Wagner, whose operas are almost exclusively played here. But unlike in the classical world, women here have long been responsible for the fortunes of this festival, which was run as a Wagner family company for a long time.
It starts with the composer’s wife Cosima, goes through Hitler’s confidante Winifred, who contributed significantly to Bayreuth’s bad reputation, to Eva and the current festival director Katharina Wagner. This is noticeable because opera directors, opera directors and festival directors are mostly men, this is the case all over the world.
Katharina Wagner, born in 1978, modernized the Festival on the Green Hill, both organizationally and artistically, the process is not yet complete. She was the first woman to direct in Bayreuth. It took 145 years: But this year Wagner signed Oksana Lyniv, the first woman to conduct in Bayreuth – and this year’s opening premiere with the “Flying Dutchman”.
Unlike the rest of the world of classical music, Bayreuth is – finally – on the best path to equality: Congratulations!