BAYREUTH FESTIVAL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20716, 8 November 1930, Page 10 (Supplement)

BAYREUTH FESTIVAL.

CHOICE OF DIRECTOR. TOSCANINI NOT SELECTED. A report that Signor Toscanini would possibly be asked to become musical director of the Bayreulh festivals has been declared authoritatively to bo without foundation, says a correspondent of the Daily Telegraph. There seems to bo a possibility that Siegfried Wagner's widow, Frau Winifred Wagner, may instal herself as directress of the festival.

Tho building in which the performances are given stands on land presented by the town of Bayreuth, and it was constructed by Richard Wagner with the help of funds contributed by King Ludwig 11. of Bavaria, and other patrons of the musician. It was thus the personal property of Richard Wagner. He bequeathed it to his son Siegfried, who, it is generally understood, has appointed his widow, Frau Winifred bis sole heiress. Signor Toscanini has agreed, however, to direct seven performance? of " Tannhauser," and possibly some of " Parsifal " in the next few years. A movement is on foot to placo the general direction of several of the works in tho hands of Max Reinhardt. The supporters of the classical representations declare, however, that the Bayreuth tradition has a public which adequately supports it and that this tradition would be destroyed if " sensation " were introduced.