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Opening Night

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

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鈥檚 revolutionary ideas and vaulting ambition struggled against the reality of securing supporters, raising finances, and inspiring audiences.

Today: Wagner鈥檚 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鈥檛 enough pressure, the whole world is watching to see how he does.

Siegfried: Act 3, 鈥淗eil dir, Sonne! Heil dir, Licht!鈥 (Br眉nhilde鈥檚 awakening)
Birgit Nilsson, soprano (Br眉nnhilde)
Wofgang Windgassen, tenor (Siegfried)
Vienna Philharmonic, conducted by Sir Georg Solti.

Die Walk眉re: Act III, Wotan鈥檚 Farewell and Magic Fire Music
Bryn Terfel, bass-baritone (Wotan)
Berlin Philharmonic, conducted by Claudio Abbado

G枚tterd盲mmerung: Siegfried鈥檚 Funeral March
Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Mariss Jansons

G枚tterd盲mmerung: "Starke Scheite schichtet mir dort鈥 (Brunhilde鈥檚 Immolation Scene)
Gwyneth Jones, soprano (Br眉nnhilde)
Bayreuth Festival Orchestra, conducted by Pierre Boulez

59 minutes

Music Played

  • Richard Wagner

    Siegfried: Act 3, "Heil dir, Sonne! Heil dir, Licht!" (Br眉nhilde's awakening)

    Singer: Birgit Nilsson. Singer: Wolfgang Windgassen. Orchestra: Vienna Philharmonic. Conductor: Georg Solti.
    • TELDEC : 4509-94193 2.
    • TELDEC.
    • 8.
  • Richard Wagner

    Die Walk眉re: Act III, Wotan's Farewell and Magic Fire Music

    Orchestra: Berliner Philharmoniker. Conductor: Claudio Abbado. Singer: Bryn Terfel.
    • DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON : 471-348-2.
    • DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON.
    • 8.
  • Richard Wagner

    G枚tterd盲mmerung: Siegfried's Funeral March

    Orchestra: Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Mariss Jansons.
    • EMI : 7243-5 86997 2.
    • EMI.
    • 5.
  • Richard Wagner

    G枚tterd盲mmerung: "Starke Scheite schichtet mir dort" (Brunhilde's Immolation)

    Singer: Gwyneth Jones. Orchestra: Bayreuth Festival Orchestra. Conductor: Pierre Boulez.
    • PHILIPS : 4344-242.
    • PHILIPS.
    • 11.

Broadcasts

  • Thu 30 Sep 2021 12:00
  • Thu 23 Feb 2023 12:00

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