It is with great sadness that the Bayreuth Festival bids farewell to tenor Wolfgang Schmidt, who was closely associated with our theater for many years and whose artistic work had a lasting impact on the Green Hill.
Wolfgang Schmidt first came to Bayreuth in 1992 and made his debut as Tannhäuser. He quickly became part of our festival history.
Above all, as Siegfried in “Der Ring des Nibelungen,” he shaped the musical face of Bayreuth over many summers. From 1994 to 1998 and again from 2000 to 2004, he appeared on our stage in Siegfried and Götterdämmerung, impressing audiences with his vocal power, stamina, and deep respect for Richard Wagner’s work. His artistic versatility was also evident in his return to Bayreuth as Mime in 2009 and 2010. With this change of role, he demonstrated courage, adaptability, and an admirable ability to continually engage with music and the stage in new ways.
With Wolfgang Schmidt, we have lost not only an outstanding Wagner tenor, but also an artist who left a unique mark on Bayreuth. His voice, his stage presence, and his passion will continue to resonate for a long time to come in every note, every memory, and every summer on the Green Hill.