Penelope Turing on Bayreuth and the post-war Bayreuth style called "New Bayreuth"
Bayreuth Festival
"From the earliest days of its festivals, to sing or conduct at
Bayreuth was to receive the accolade of greatness in the Wagnerian field.
Glance through the programmes of the past and one finds a galaxy of famous
names. They all considered it the highest honour they could win and came,
in the old days, for very low fees. Artistically and professionally the
Bayreuth hallmark ensured engagements wherever an operahouse aspired to
the best, and with that came big money.
Penelope Turing: "Hans
Hotter - Man and Artist" p 120
New Bayreuth
"Naturally
the influence of this style is seen most strongly in productions of Richard
Wagner's own works, or reactions to them. Any operahouse putting on a
new production of one of the operas is judged, acclaimed or condemned,
according to its apparent conformity to the Bayreuth conception. Occasionally,
depending on the personal taste of the observer, they may be praised for
being unlike Bayreuth, but it remains the universal yardstick."
Penelope
Turing: New Bayreuth (Introduction)
Penelope Turing is the author of "New Bayreuth" and "Hans Hotter - Man and Artist" (biography) . She has been covering the Bayreuth Festival for British magazines and newspapers since 1952.
More on the Bayreuth Festival here
Hans Hotter's Bayreuth appearances
Interview with Penelope Turing