The opening night of the very first Bayreuth Festival approaches, and with it, yet more troubles for Wagner. Presented by Donald Macleod.

This week, Donald Macleod follows Wagner on his decades-long journey to realise his dream of building his own music theatre, and establishing a festival there dedicated to his music. We see how Wagner’s revolutionary ideas and vaulting ambition struggled against the reality of securing supporters, raising finances, and inspiring audiences.

Today: Wagner’s Festival Theatre at Bayreuth is finally complete, after many years of struggle. Now all he has to do is put together an orchestra, a company of singers, an entire production team, and mount the most ambitious opera cycle ever conceived. If that wasn’t enough pressure, the whole world is watching to see how he does.

Siegfried: Act 3, “Heil dir, Sonne! Heil dir, Licht!” (Brünhilde’s awakening)
Birgit Nilsson, soprano (Brünnhilde)
Wofgang Windgassen, tenor (Siegfried)
Vienna Philharmonic, conducted by Sir Georg Solti.

Die Walküre: Act III, Wotan’s Farewell and Magic Fire Music
Bryn Terfel, bass-baritone (Wotan)
Berlin Philharmonic, conducted by Claudio Abbado

Götterdämmerung: Siegfried’s Funeral March
Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Mariss Jansons

Götterdämmerung: "Starke Scheite schichtet mir dort“ (Brunhilde’s Immolation Scene)
Gwyneth Jones, soprano (Brünnhilde)
Bayreuth Festival Orchestra, conducted by Pierre Boulez Show less