I'm an avid Wagnerian. Would love to attend a performance of one of his operas at the Festspielhaus,Bayreuth, Germany.
Have any of you been there? If so what was the approximate total cost: tickets, airfare, lodging, etc.?
I researched the Internet for ticket prices, and was blown away: $4,000 per seat opening night; $1,000 per thereafter; 10 yrs. waiting period.
I know about the Wagner Socities, but from my experience with them, they seem to be of the wealthy elite, and rather snobish.
If this has not been your experience, let me know.
Thanks,
Wotan This has been my dream for a long time. My late father has been there before World War II (he had studied in Germany), so all that he has told me about his great time there is of course out of date. Fresh information can be found on the official site:
http://www.bayreuther-festspiele.de/Anfa...
Reading the question, I can suppose You know all that, hotels in Germany cost at least 80-100 Euro per night, airfare depends how far You are. Munich and Prague are the most convenient airports near Bayreuth.
Meanwhile I agree completely with scenok, I have seen the Ring on DVD-set (Festspiele 1981, Pierre Boulez) where Hagen (Fritz Huebner) wears a coat with contemporary necktie, but, closing the eyes and widely opening the ears You allow the grandiose music to occupy all Your being - finally this only matters.
EDIT (after having read another answers): malvernhills07 is perfectly right about Triebschen on Vierwaldstaetter See in Switzerland - incredibly beautiful place, I've also been there, fully worth a visit! Oh, yes. I WOULD LIKE SO MUCH TO GO THERE. I'm an avid Wagnerian too. But I think that I'll listen just the music. Unfortunately, the Directors are far away from Wagner's pieces. A friend of mine told me that he was to "Tristan und Isolde". Tristan was a plumber. Isolde... a *****.
I listen the direct broadcast transmissions to my radio, in July-august. They spiked about the Ring (you probably know that it was a pause for a couple of years; an absence of the Ring). Alberich's domain was made as a nuclear station. Brunhilde was not protected by the Wotan's fire, but a field of poppy (a relation with the drugs, or something like that).
I'm not against the modern art, but a Director should not destroy a masterpiece just to shock the people.
Good luck with your trip. Sorry for the lack of information. I have been to Bayreuth but it was not during the festival. I could hear people inside the Festspielhaus singing, the banging and sawing of sets being made, etc. It was closed to tours. Arrgghhh! (I come all this way and can't get inside!!!) I spent most of my time in Wahnfried.
From there I went to Triebschen. Someday you'll have to go there as well. Stand on the very stairs on which the Idyll was first performed. Priceless!
Bayreuth is very expensive and there is a LONG waiting list for tickets. But, like most things in life, most things are available if you have the $. But be prepared to fork over ALOT!
Even if you can't get tickets for a performance - just being in Bayreuth is wonderful for a Wagner fan. |
