Performing Arts

FRANKFURT, Germany – As the annual Bayreuth Festival moves toward its conclusion later this week, the real drama is unfolding behind the scenes over a successor to 89-year-old director Wolfgang Wagner.

The furor increased Monday with news that Nike Wagner, the great-granddaughter of the composer Richard Wagner, had teamed with Belgian director Gerard Mortier to apply for the job. Ms. Wagner's bid rivals an earlier bid by two of her cousins – the daughters of current director Wolfgang Wagner.

The festival confirmed receiving the Wagner-Mortier application, as the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung had reported, but offered no further comment.

Richard Wagner founded the festival in 1872. His grandsons, Wolfgang and Wieland, took charge in 1951. After the death of Wieland (Nike's father), Wolfgang became the sole director in 1967. He announced in late April that he would quit the director's post at the end of August.

His daughters Katharina, 30, and her half sister Eva Wagner-Pasquier, 63, submitted an application for joint leadership.

An official decision on who will take over the festival is not expected until after this year's event ends Thursday. The festival board of directors is set to meet Monday.

Speculation about the festival's future leadership has swirled since the death last November of Wolfgang Wagner's second wife and longtime assistant, Gudrun. For years, Wolfgang insisted that she take over from him and if not, then their daughter Katharina.

In 2001, the festival's board of directors, which includes federal, Bavarian state government and Bayreuth city officials, tried to force Mr. Wagner to step down by naming the Wagner-Pasquier team to take over.

But he refused to leave, arguing his lifetime contract gave him control over the opera house where the festival is staged each summer.

Mr. Mortier, who helped bring about a successful resurgence of the Salzburg Festival in neighboring Austria, is to become general manager and artistic director of the New York City Opera in the fall of 2009.

The Associated Press

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