Pan-European Broadcast: Sky Arts HD shows “The Ring des Nibelungen” live and exclusively from Bayreuth Festspielhaus in all Sky countries
- Pan-European Agreement: For the first time in television history, live broadcast of the “Ring des Nibelungen” on Sky Arts HD live and exclusively in all Sky countries from Bayreuth Festspielhaus: Germany, Austria, United Kingdom, Ireland and Italy
- Broadcast of: “The Rheingold” (26.7.), “The Walküre” (27.7.), “Siegfried” (29.7.) and “Götterdämmerung” (31.7.)
- Axel Brüggemann, music journalist, will moderate the live broadcast
- New channel Sky Arts HD launches linearly on July 21 at 9:00 PM exclusively on Sky in Germany and Austria
Unterföhring, June 8, 2016 – Wagnerians in Europe can rejoice: For the first time in television history, Richard Wagner’s complete “Ring des Nibelungen” will be broadcast live and exclusively from Bayreuth Festspielhaus on Sky Arts HD in Germany, Austria, the United Kingdom, Ireland, and Italy. The opening will be “The Rheingold”, followed by “The Walküre”, “Siegfried”, and “Götterdämmerung”. In addition to the live broadcast of the operas, there will be an extensive supporting program, which will be moderated by music journalist and Wagner biographer Axel Brüggemann. Wagner’s main work is also available flexibly in terms of time and location via the innovative services Sky Go and Sky On Demand.
Elke Walthelm, Executive Vice President Content at Sky Deutschland: “We are very much looking forward to the cooperation with the Bayreuth Festival and Katharina Wagner. It is the first time that Richard Wagner’s “The Ring des Nibelungen” will be broadcast live and exclusively pan-European on one channel. Through the close cooperation within the Sky Group, we can present this masterpiece to Sky customers across Europe.”
Katharina Wagner, Head of Bayreuth Festival: I look forward to working with Sky and find Sky’s commitment great. This allows many people to enjoy the performances, and it is entirely in the spirit of Richard Wagner to reach as many interested art lovers as possible. A great and meritorious project with the best possible technical standard.”
The Bayreuth Festival were founded by Richard Wagner, composer, poet, conductor, in 1876. Richard Wagner saw this as an opportunity to perform his works according to his artistic intentions. The Bayreuth Festival are now among the most important cultural festivals in Germany. The management of the festivals is still in the hands of a member of the Wagner family. Since September 2015, Katharina Wagner, Richard Wagner’s great-granddaughter, has been the sole director of the festivals.
The channel Sky Arts HD launches on July 21 at 9:00 PM exclusively on Sky and is the new 24/7 address for art and culture in Germany and Austria. The channel presents both linearly and on Sky Go and Sky On Demand, alongside cultural classics, modern and contemporary developments, asks the question “What is art?” and thus offers the opportunity to discover unconventional and controversial art. Viewers can get to know the artists and experience the creative process to a piece extent. Sky Arts HD provides easy access to art and culture and thus appeals to experts as well as general art enthusiasts of all ages.
Other highlights on Sky Arts HD include the “Master of Photography” photo competition, produced by all three Sky countries, with Isabella Rossellini as host, the Oscar-winning documentary “Amy: The Girl Behind The Name”, the Oscar-nominated documentary “The Salt of the Earth” by Wim Wenders, and the German original production “Kapitelweise”, a literary format that introduces German-speaking authors behind Germany’s most successful books.
Sky Arts HD is available to Sky customers in the Entertainment package and can be received via satellite, selected private cable network operators, and IPTV. As a special launch promotion, the channel is activated for all Sky customers until January 23, 2017, inclusive. In addition, Sky Arts content is flexibly available in terms of time and location via the innovative services Sky Go and Sky On Demand.
Broadcast dates Bayreuth Festival live – The Ring des Nibelungen on Sky Arts HD:
26.07.2016 from 5:30 PM: “The Rheingold ”
27.07.2016 from 4:45 PM: “The Walküre ‘
29.07.2016 from 4:45 PM: “Siegfried’
31.07.2016 from 4:45 PM: “Götterdämmerung”
About Sky Deutschland:
With over 4.5 million customers and annual revenues of around 1.8 billion euros, Sky is the pay-TV market leader in Germany and Austria. The program offering consists of live sports, feature films, series, children’s programs, and documentaries. Sky Deutschland, headquartered in Unterföhring near Munich, is part of Europe’s leading entertainment group Sky plc. 21.7 million customers in five countries watch Sky’s exclusive programs whenever and wherever they want (as of March 31, 2016).
About Sky Arts HD:
Sky Arts HD is the new address for art and culture in Germany and Austria. Sky’s offering, currently accessible to all Sky customers via Sky On Demand and Sky Go, presents the exciting world of art and culture in reports and documentaries with a focus on photography, architecture, urban arts, visual arts, literature, dance, classical music, and concert broadcasts. The linear channel launches on July 21 at 9:00 PM exclusively on Sky in Germany and Austria and is freely available to all Sky customers until January 23, 2017, inclusive, after which Sky Arts HD will be available in the Sky Entertainment package. Sky Arts has long been a successful part of the Sky program portfolio in the United Kingdom, Ireland, and Italy.