Bayreuth Festspielhaus Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Richard Wagner Festspielhaus
The Festspielhaus, home of the Bayreuth Festival, in 2006
General information
Location	Bayreuth, Bavaria, Germany
Coordinates	49°57′36″N 11°34′47″E / 49.96000°N 11.57972°E / 49.96000; 11.57972
Groundbreaking	1872 (1872)
Opened	1876 (1876)
Design and construction
Architect	after Gottfried Semper

Aerial view of the Bayreuth Festspielhaus

The Bayreuth Festspielhaus (which means Bayreuth Festival Theatre in German) is a special opera house in Bayreuth, Germany. It was built by the famous German composer Richard Wagner in the 1800s. This theatre is unique because it is used only for performing Wagner's own operas.

It is the home of the yearly Bayreuth Festival. This festival was the main reason the building was designed and built. The official name of the theatre is Richard-Wagner-Festspielhaus. It also houses the Bayreuth Festival Orchestra.

Designing the Festspielhaus
The Hidden Orchestra Pit
Bayreuth Festival
Recent History of the Building
Images for kids
See also

Designing the Festspielhaus

A certificate from 1922 showing support for the Bayreuth festival

Richard Wagner based the design of the Festspielhaus on an idea by architect Gottfried Semper. Semper had planned an opera house for Munich, but it was never built. Wagner used Semper's ideas without his permission.

Ludwig II of Bavaria, who was the king, gave most of the money for the building. The first stone was laid on May 22, 1872. This was Wagner's 59th birthday. The theatre first opened from August 13 to 17, 1876. This was for the first full performance of Wagner's famous four-opera series, Der Ring des Nibelungen.

Only the front of the building has fancy decorations. The rest of the outside looks simple, with mostly plain bricks. Inside, the building is mostly made of wood. It has a special sound quality, where sounds last for about 1.55 seconds. The Festspielhaus is one of the biggest wooden buildings ever made that stands on its own.

Most opera houses have many levels of seats in a horseshoe shape. But the Festspielhaus is different. Its seats are in a single, steep slope. There are only a few small viewing areas along the back wall. This style is called "continental seating." Many modern movie theaters use this seating style today. It helps everyone have a clear view of the stage. The Festspielhaus can hold 1,925 people.

The theatre has a special "double proscenium" (a frame around the stage). This makes the stage look farther away than it is. The double proscenium and the hidden orchestra pit create what Wagner called a "mystic gulf." This gap between the audience and the stage makes the performances feel dreamlike. It also helps connect to the mythical stories in most of Wagner's operas. The building's design helped Wagner achieve his goals for sound, feeling, and the look of his shows.

The Festspielhaus was supposed to open in 1873. But Wagner had barely raised enough money to build the walls. He traveled around Europe, putting on concerts to raise more funds. Even the Sultan Abdülaziz of the Ottoman Empire helped by donating money. Even after King Ludwig II started funding the project, Wagner still had to do concerts to keep the building going. These tours were very hard on Wagner's health.

The Hidden Orchestra Pit

A very special part of the Festspielhaus is its unusual orchestra pit. It is hidden under the stage and covered by a hood. This means the audience cannot see the orchestra at all. Wagner wanted this so that people would focus only on the story happening on stage. He didn't want them distracted by the conductor or musicians.

This design also helps balance the sound. The singers' voices and the orchestra's music blend perfectly. This creates the ideal sound for Wagner's operas. Only Wagner's operas are performed at the Festspielhaus.

However, this hidden pit makes it very hard for conductors. Even the best conductors find it challenging. The pit is dark and crowded. Also, the sound echoes in a way that makes it hard to keep the orchestra and singers together. Conductors have to learn to ignore cues from the singers.

The way the orchestra is set up in Bayreuth is also unique:

The first violins are on the conductor's right side. Usually, they are on the left. This helps direct their sound towards the stage. The sound then bounces back to the audience.
Instruments like double basses, cellos, and harps are split into groups. They are placed on both sides of the pit.
Most of the orchestra sits directly under the stage. This means they can't see or hear the singers well. So, communication with the conductor is super important. This setup helps create the huge, rich sounds Wagner wanted in his music.

Bayreuth Festival

The Festspielhaus is still the home of the yearly Bayreuth Festival. During the festival, Wagner's later operas are performed. These include the Ring cycle and Parsifal.

Recent History of the Building

In 2014, pictures on canvas covered scaffolding around the Festspielhaus during repairs.

In 2012, it was announced that the building needed repairs. The roof was leaking, and the red brick walls were crumbling. In 2014, about €30 million was given for the restoration. This money came mostly from the German government and the state of Bavaria.

The repairs were finished on July 26, 2015. The building is now fully restored and looks great.