Bayreuth: Festspielhaus

Country: Germany (Deutschland)
State: Bayern
City: Bayreuth
Location: Festspielhügel 1

Built 1872-1876 by Otto Brückwald for Richard Wagner. Opened 13 Aug 1876 with Richard Wagner's "Rheingold". 1881-1882 extension by the "Königsbau", a staircase pavilion with a closed royal box. Renovated 1925-1925, 1931, 1933, 1958-1959 and 1962-1973. Originally 1645 seats, today 1925 seats.

Throughout its history, the theatre has only be used for performances of Richard Wagner's operas during the Festspiele (with the exception of some performances of Beethoven's 9th symphony, and some entertainment performances after World War II). Its unique covered pit that hides the orchestra completely from the audience results in an especially well-balanced acoustic mixture of voices and orchestra in the auditorium.

World premieres:

  • Richard Wagner: Siegfried (16 Aug 1876)
  • Richard Wagner: Götterdämmerung (17 Aug 1876)
  • Richard Wagner: Parsifal (26 July 1882)

Link: www.bayreuther-festspiele.de

see also Postcards of Bayreuth Stage Sets

[Bayreuth: Festspielhaus] Front Text: "Das Festspielhaus 1876 ohne Vorbau" [without the 1882 extension]
Reverse Text: "Aus der Richard Wagner-Gedenkstätte Bayreuth"
Publisher: Eigenverlag G[eor]g Lichtensteiger, Bayreuth
Type: Divided Back
Size: Modern
Not sent.

[Bayreuth: Festspielhaus] Front Text: "Bayreuth. Wagner-Theater."
Publisher: Kunstanstalt Hermann Ludewig, Leipzig-R. No. 4608
Type: Undivided Back
Size: Classic
Sent: from Bayreuth to Tegernsee, 1906

[Bayreuth: Festspielhaus] Front Text: "Bühnenweihfestspiel Bayreuth"
Reverse Text: "Aus der Richard Wagner-Gedenkstätte Bayreuth"
Publisher: Hans Thomaschek, Bayreuth, Berlin
Type: Embossed Card; Golden Print; Undivided Back
Size: Classic
Not sent.

[Bayreuth: Festspielhaus] Front Text: "Bayreuth, Richard Wagnertheater Zuschauerraum"
Handwritten Front Text: dated May1903
Publisher: Chr. Senfft, Bayreuth
Type: Undivided Back
Size: Classic
Not sent.

[Bayreuth: Festspielhaus] Front Text: "Bayreuth, Richard-Wagner-Theater, Zuschauerraum"
Publisher: Dr. Trenkler & Co. Leipzig; 4181
Type: Undivided Back
Size: Classic
Not sent.

[Bayreuth: Festspielhaus] Front Text: "Bayreuth Festspielhaus", signed "N. Berend"
Publisher: TUCK'S Postkarte, Raphael Tuck & Sons, Weite weite Welt Serie, Serie Bayreuth, No. 795; Verlag Grau'sche Buchhandlung, Inh. K. Habeland, Bayreuth
Type: Divided Back
Size: Classic
Not sent.

[Bayreuth: Festspielhaus] Picture: brass ensemble signalling the beginning of a performance
Front Text: "Bayreuth, Fanfarenbläser am Festspielhause"
Publisher: P. H. B.; 0158
Type: Divided Back
Size: Classic
Sent: from Bayreuth to Schwerin, 1913

[Bayreuth: Festspielhaus] Front Text: "Bayreuth Festspielhaus-Orchester mit Siegfried Wagner als Dirigent" [Siegfried Wagner conducting the festival orchestra]
Publisher: Bayreuther Fotokartenverlag Hofatelier Brand, Inh. Gg. Ulrich
Type: Divided Back
Size: Classic
Not sent.

[Bayreuth: Festspielhaus] Front Text: "Bühnenfestspielhaus Bayreuth - Inneres mit Gralstempel" [interior view with stage set "Temple of the Grail" from "Parisfal"]
Publisher: Ramme & Ulrich, Hoffotograf, Bayreuth
Type: Real Photo
Size: Classic
Not sent.

[Bayreuth: Festspielhaus] Front Text: "Bayreuth. Auffahrt zum Richard Wagner-Festspielhaus"
Publisher: Paul Himml, Bayreuth; Nr. 1609
Type: Real Photo
Size: Classic
Sent: from Bayreuth to Weimar, 1934

[Bayreuth: Festspielhaus] Front Text: "Ehrt Eure deutschen Meister! Das Festspielhaus in Bayreuth"
Type: postal card with printed stamp ("Richard Wagner 4 Rpf. Deutsche Nothilfe 1933")
Size: Modern
Not sent.

[Bayreuth: Festspielhaus] Reverse Text: "Bayreuth, Richard-Wagner-Festspielhaus. Nach einem Aquarell von Hans Schmitz"
Publisher: Verlag Paul Himml, Bayreuth; Nr. 1922
Size: Modern
Sent: from Bayreuth to Frankfurt a. M., 1937

[Bayreuth: Festspielhaus] Reverse Text: "8580 Bayreuth - Richard-Wagner-Festspielhaus"
Publisher: Oberfr. Ansichtskartenverlag, Bayreuth
Size: Modern
Not sent.

[Bayreuth: Festspielhaus] First Day Cover (14 July 1976)
Picture: Festspielhaus without the 1882 extension
Text: "100 Jahre Bayreuther Festspiele"
Stamp: "100 Jahre Bayreuther Festspiele", image: stage set
Postmark: "Hundert Jahre Bayreuther Festspiele", image: Festspielhaus

[Bayreuth: Festspielhaus] Reverse Text: "Festspielstadt Bayreuth - Weltstadt auf Zeit, Festspielhaus"
Publisher: Kunstverlag Dennerlein-Liebl, Regensburg
Size: Modern
Sent: by a singer of the 1988 festival from Bayreuth to Wuppertal, 1988

[Bayreuth: Festspielhaus] Reverse Text: "Bayreuth - Richard-Wagner-Festspielhaus"
Publisher: Oberfr. Ansichtskartenverlag, Bayreuth
Size: Modern
Not sent.

[Bayreuth: Festspielhaus] Front Text: "Bayreuth - Richard Wagner Festspielhaus"
Reverse Text: "Bayreuth - Richard Wagner Festspielhaus, Architekt Otto Brückwald, Erstaufführung am 13.8.1876"
Publisher: Feuerpfeil Verlags GmbH, Bayreuth
Size: Modern
Not sent.


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