The Richard Wagner Festival in Bayreuth has officially started. As usual, prominent figures from politics and society appeared at today’s premiere of “Parsifal” by US director Jay Scheib (music direction: Pablo Heras-Casado). Bavaria’s Prime Minister Markus Söder (CSU, 56) and his wife Karin Baumüller-Söder welcomed Angela Merkel (69) and her husband Joachim Sauer (74) on the red carpet of the Festspielhaus. The former Chancellor appeared in a green and turquoise shimmering two-piece suit.
Merkel’s successor in office, Olaf Scholz (65), was not present. The SPD politician said goodbye to his summer vacation last week.
Ursula von der Leyen (64) also appeared with her husband Heiko von der Leyen (68) on the Green Hill. The EU Commission President appeared in a festive blue dress with chiffon sleeves. Party leader Ricarda Lang (29), the Bavarian opposition leader Katharina Schulze (38) and Minister of State for Culture Claudia Roth (68) appeared from the Greens. Schulze and Lang drove up in an energy-friendly small car. In the pouring rain that set in, many of the guests on the red carpet grabbed their umbrellas.
Of course, not only guests from politics were present in Bayreuth this year. For example, the Munich-born “Tatort” investigator Maria Furtwängler (56) appeared in a black sequined jumpsuit with a cape and joked on the red carpet with Ursula von der Leyen. VOX lioness Dagmar Wöhrl (69) and Princess Gloria von Thurn und Taxis (63) also mingled with the guests on the Green Hill.
So-called augmented reality glasses were available in the Festspielhaus for the new production of “Parsifal”, which make virtual stage elements visible. However, for reasons of cost, among other things, only around 330 pairs of glasses are said to be available, while a total of almost 2,000 guests were expected at the premiere.
