By
Mike Walsh
The Bayreuth Festival symbolises Europe’s centuries old
struggle for its existence. Richard Wagner, (1813 – 1883) the great German
composer, chose Bayreuth for a number of sound reasons. Primarily, the maestro
believed that his unique works should not share the same stage with the music
of others. The Bayreuth Festival was destined to showcase only Wagnerian epics.
Attracting
funding to finance the project was problematic. The Bayreuth Festival was
unlikely to be other than an unfulfilled dream. Finally, the almost estranged
King Ludwig II of Bavaria stepped in and provided the necessary resources.
Bayreuth theatre was finally opened in August 1876 much to the relief of the
great German composer and others who shared his vision. The first performance
was Das Rheingold.
Artistically
the pioneering venture was a fabulous success. It would be difficult to
identify a single head of state, let alone accomplished musician, who failed to
make the pilgrimage to the Bayreuth Festival. Unfortunately, the annual event
fell short of being a box office success. Rescue was at hand; the doyens of
great music and culture were generous. The show goes on and on and on.
Wahnfried was the name given by Richard Wagner to his villa in Bayreuth.
The name is a German compound of Wahn (delusion, madness) and Fried (e),
(peace, freedom). The house
fascia reveals Wagner’s motto Hier wo mein Wähnen Frieden fand, Wahnfried, sei
dieses Haus von mir benannt. (Here
where my delusions have found peace, let this place be named Wahnfried.)
Siegfried
Wagner (1869 – 1930) followed in his father’s footsteps and excelled as both
composer and conductor. Siegfried served as artistic director of the Bayreuth
Festival from 1908 to 1930. The Bayreuth Festival’s orchestral conductor was
the maternal grandson of Franz Liszt. From the Hungarian-born German composer
Siegfried received some instruction in harmony.
Winifred
Williams (1897 – 1980) born in Hastings, England, was destined to marry both
Siegfried Wagner and the festival of Bayreuth.
It
was an unusual destiny for an English-born orphan. Winifred lost both her
parents before she was two-years old. The child was initially raised in a
number of homes. When she was eight-years old Winifred was embraced by a
distant German relative of her mother, Henrietta Karop; her adoptive mum was
married to musician Karl Klindworth: Winifred’s adoptive parents were friends of
Richard Wagner.
Siegfried
Wagner was 45-years of age when on September 22, 1915 he placed the wedding
ring on the finger of his 17-year old bride. The couple were to have four
children; two sons and two daughters: Wieland (1917 -–1966), Friedelind (1918
-1991), Wolfgang (1919 – 2010) and Verena (born 1920)
After
Siegfried Wagner’s passing on in 1930 Winifred Wagner took over the management
of the Bayreuth Festival and she maintained the position until the war’s end.
Winifred’s respect and admiration of Adolf Hitler over many years developed
into a close relationship that many thought might end in marriage.
The
spirit of the Bayreuth Festival infused the National Socialist German Workers
Party’s (NSDAP). Symbolic of Europe’s traditions, culture, virtues and
struggles, Wagnerian epics encapsulated the divine purpose and enduring
nobility of National Socialism.
Of
Richard Wagner, Adolf Hitler said; “Whoever wants to understand National
Socialist Germany must know Wagner.”
During
the 1930s until its military defeat in May 1945 the National Socialist religion
was universally acclaimed as a harbinger of peace and a force of salvation from
collaborating Capitalism and Communism (Bolshevism). Throughout the world,
National Socialism was embraced as a religious phenomenon. Adolf Hitler was
perceived by many as evidence of the Second Coming.
Adolf Hitler accompanied by the Wagner family. Wolfgang Wagner (second
left) with his brother Wieland (right), his mother Winifred at Bayreuth, 1937.
The
relationship between the Führer, Winifred Wagner and Richard Wagner’s music is
intense. The German President and Chancellor from 1933 to 1940 attended all
Bayreuth festivals.
The
German leader stayed on average ten days at each Bayreuth festival. However, on
the occasion of the 1940 Festival the Führer said: “This year, unfortunately,
due to the demands of the war that England does not want to end, I will only
remain in Bayreuth today.” The Führer on another occasion said; “In Bayreuth I
have lived some of the most beautiful moments of my life.”
At
Wagner’s residence, where he has been received as a guest year after year, the
poet, artist and visionary enjoyed authentic family life.
Adolf Hitler with Verena and Friedelind Wagner in 1938.
Hitler
treated Winifred and Siegfried’s children as family. The siblings knew their
mentor and patron as Uncle Adolf. Neither of the Wagner sons would serve in the
armed forces. It had already been decided that “Germany could not be allowed to
lose Richard Wagner’s heritage on the battlefields.”
August
Kubizek was a boyhood friend of Adolf Hitler. Having much in common the teenage
idealists were absorbed by great classical music. Their taste however was
consumed by the works of the Leipzig born musician, Richard Wagner.
During
his short stay in Bayreuth during 1940 the Führer had occasion to meet again
his childhood companion. To his friend he entrusted the following words:
“This
war is depriving me of my best years. You know how much I still have to do,
what I still want to build. You know better than anyone all those plans that
kept me busy from my youth. I have only been able to carry out a small fraction
of it. I still have a lot of things to do. Who would if not?”
Left the young Hitler and to the right Kubizek.
The
Führer, an idealist, poet and lover of the arts, constantly yearned to create a
great German social state. He held the view that the pseudo-democratic
plutocracies, envious and fearful of someone demonstrating that things can work
otherwise, imposed upon him a war of annihilation.
During
their youth the two friends shared rooms on the same student floor in Vienna.
It was the Führer who at 18 years of age had convinced Kubizek’s father to let
his son go to the city and study in the conservatory. This act of wisdom and
true friendship changed the life of August Kubizek and allowed the dreamer to
fulfil his dream of becoming orchestra director.
No comments:
Post a Comment