Wagner festival starts in Germany

One of the highlights of the global musical calendar has got underway.

Germany’s President Horst Kohler and Angela Merkel, tipped to become the nation’s first female chancellor, were among the VIPs at the opening night of the Bayreuth Festival in Bavaria. Dating back to 1876, it is an annual celebration of the work of Richard Wagner. Started by the man himself, the German composer’s family still play a central role. Tens of thousands attend every year and there is a decade-long waiting list for tickets. This year’s event began with a new production of “Tristan and Isolde.”

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