In its meeting today, the shareholders’ meeting of Bayreuth Festival GmbH approved the second construction phase of the renovation of the Festspielhaus in Bayreuth.
The chairman of the committee, Dr. Georg Freiherr von Waldenfels, stated: “I am pleased about the unanimous decision of all shareholders and that a solid foundation has thus been created for the successful continuation of the renovation work at the Festspielhaus.”
Construction is scheduled to begin on September 1, 2017, after the end of the upcoming festival season. The work can be completed by May 2018. The second construction phase includes the “north facade and stage tower”. The latter was not included in the original planning but had to be added to the facade renovation program after a detailed analysis and inventory. The costs of the second construction phase will amount to approx. 7 million Euros.
Unfortunately, construction could not start yet, as the measure and the corresponding funds had not been approved. Due to the advanced time, it is no longer sensible to do this during the current festival break for economic reasons. There would have been a construction break in winter, and by the time the scaffolding was erected in spring, it would have to be dismantled soon due to the beginning preparations for the festival.
Based on the extensive and detailed inventory taken by the commissioned architectural firm Stephan, it must be assumed that the concept “facade renovation and interior repair” contained in the financing agreement of September 11, 2013, cannot be maintained. The structural defects found are so serious that a fundamental renovation affecting all trades is necessary to ensure the permanent and long-term operating license for the festival, even if it only lasts a few months per year.
Since the planning of the overall measure “facade renovation and general renovation” must be carried out completely, conclusively, and carefully, further planning should be developed during the implementation of the second partial construction measure. This will not result in lost costs, as the facade renovation must be carried out in any case. While this could alternatively be done at the end of the renovation measures, it would let another performance break pass unused and incur annual costs for provisional facade protection.
Detailed plans with a concrete and reliable cost estimate for the overall renovation concept could be submitted by early April 2017. Then the necessary further political decision-making processes could be initiated.
Dr. von Waldenfels concludes: “Today, we have set another important course for the future. I am very confident that by 2026, the 150th anniversary of Bayreuth Festival, the historically valuable and internationally unique Festspielhaus can be completely renovated and shine in new splendor.”