The renowned conductor Hartmut Haenchen takes over the musical direction of the new production of “Parsifal” at the Bayreuth Festival 2016.
The festival management is very pleased to have secured Hartmut Haenchen, an artist who is as exciting as he is a passionate musician, and who is particularly familiar with Wagner’s work. Festival Director Katharina Wagner says: “I am very grateful to Maestro Haenchen for agreeing at short notice to take over the conducting of the new production, and I look forward to his first participation at the Bayreuth Festival.”
In Hartmut Haenchen’s musical biography, “Parsifal” holds an important place: “In the GDR, ‘Parsifal’ was forbidden. Herbert Kegel broke this ‘ban’ with a concert performance. I was the second conductor who wanted to stage a theatrical performance as chief conductor of the Mecklenburg State Orchestra. The theatrical performance was forbidden; instead, there were concert performances. Then Harry Kupfer staged ‘Parsifal’ at the Berlin State Opera. I conducted two performances there (sold out to Stasi members, so that the regular audience could not get in). Then I conducted the Götz Friedrich production in Stuttgart. After that came Amsterdam twice (Grüber), Paris (Warlikowski), Copenhagen (Warner), Brussels (Castelucci; also released on DVD)”, the conductor himself states.
More information at: www.haenchen.net