A stillness echos throughout the amphitheater, as anticipation grows of what is soon to come. The orchestra comes to life and soon the room fills with notes courtesy of  piccolos, flutes, and percussion. The actors take their places on stage and the drama comes to life. A living masterpiece replacing the once quiet room. The theatrics combined with an orchestra takes place at a prestigious opera event known as the Bayreuth Festival.

The Bayreuth Festival is a 5-week event that takes place annually in July in the town of Bayreuth, Germany. Attendees enjoy various works composed by Richard Wagner within the opera house. For those who want to enjoy the fresh air, there’s an outside opera experience in a special format called Open Air. Programs for the event include Wagner’s title works such as Tristan und Isolde, Das Rheingold, Götterdämmerung, Der fliegende Holländer, Lohengrin, and more.

Historical Background

The festival is located in Bayreuth, a small town in Northern Germany. Bayreuth dotted with historical buildings and museums, makes it a hotspot for the arts. The Bayreuth festival itself began as a rough sketch by Richard Wagner, a famous 19th-century German composer, in 1850. On May 22nd, 1872 the foundation was built, showcasing innovative building measures to ensure a unique opera experience.  It’s opening day on August 13th, 1876, with the help of a donation from King Ludwig II marks the first Bayreuth Festival. To celebrate the occasion, a large firework display kicked off the historic opening ceremony. The Wagner family continues to manage the festival in its modern-day account and keeping in tradition, the event showcases exclusively Wagner’s works.

Inside the Amphitheater

The opening day of the Bayreuth Festival is celebrated by the arrival of notable politicians and celebrities. As the cars arrive to drop off the attendees to walk down the red carpet into the theatre, the elegant evening gowns and suits are photographed by the press. The backdrop of the Baroque style Bayreuth theatre with its large brick walls combined with cream-colored designs along the side panels of the entrance makes it an incredible sight to take in. Moreover, the modest nature of the architecture exudes class and sets the tone for performances soon to come.

As you enter the venue and head towards the amphitheater, the architectural details create an inviting atmosphere. The amphitheater is characterized by continental seating which gives each attendee an uninterrupted view of the stage. A recessed orchestra pit creates an illusion of a dark alcove between the audience and orchestra which paints a dream-like setting for the performance. 19th-century style lights placed along the columns of the walls illuminate the entire auditorium. Soon, the entire amphitheater is filled with rows and rows of attendees, excited to witness a Wagner masterpiece.

Things to do

The 5-week event hosts an extensive schedule of activities including Wagner in the cinema, Children’s opera, introductory talks, Bayreuth discourse, master classes, and caesuras. Outside of the theater, attendees are encouraged to visit the Richard Wagner Museum, Margravian Opera House, Bayreuth New Palace, or the World of Franconian Beer Culture. This allows for guests to enjoy both the venue and the town that inspired Wagner to orchestra the Bayreuth Festival.

For those who consider themselves steadfast Wagnerian’s or simply admirers of the opera, the Bayreuth Festival is a delightful event to attend. Richard Wagner took no shortcuts with designing an opera house that is renowned for it’s architecture and acoustics. The rich history and prestigious legacy that the Bayreuth theater continues to carry on , makes it a prime event to witness a Wagnarian opera experience.