The first of two special programmes to mark the centenary of the Bayreuth Festival and the opening 100 years ago of the theatre that Wagner designed for the first complete performance of the four operas that make up The Ring.

Written and narrated by John Culshaw, this programme traces the origin and development of the Festival and includes rare archive film of productions over 40 years, and of the Wagner family including Siegfried, Winifred, Wieland and the present director, Wolfgang Wagner.

Singers appearing in the programme include: Jean Cox, Josef Greindl, Gwyneth Jones, Frieda Leider, Max Lorenz, Donald McIntyre, Franz Mazura, Marita Napier, Birgit Nilsson, Anna Reynolds, Karl Ridderbusch, Thomas Stewart
with the Chorus and Orchestra of the Bayreuth Festival, conducted by Hermann Abendroth, Karl Elmendorff, Karl Bohm and Horst Stein

(Part 2: tomorrow at 9.0 pm)