The Soap Opera Takes A New Turn

Here's a development few expected would, without third-party arm-twisting or intervention, ever come about. Reports Top News:

Wolfgang Wagner, 88, the chief for life of Germany's Wagnerian opera festival in Bayreuth, has offered to step down if his two formerly feuding daughters take over the job, a spokesman said Friday.

[...]

Peter Emmerich, Bayreuth Festival spokesman, confirmed Friday to Deutsche Presse-Agentur dpa that the elder Wagner had hinted he might retire and that the two daughters could jointly step into his place.

Emmerich said Katharina Wagner and Eva Wagner-Pasquier had realised they could work together if the circumstances were right.

The Bayreuth Festival's trust board, which runs the government-subsidized event and formally employs Wagner, is to meet April 29 and the sisters are expected to outline their succession plan then.

And PR Inside adds:

Wolfgang Wagner wrote in a personal letter to donors dated April 8 that he was prepared to support his daughters Katharina Wagner and Eva Wagner-Pasquier as part of a group to succeed him, Germany's 3sat television reported, citing unidentified sources from the foundation that oversees the festival.

It was the first time Wagner had indicated he would support Wagner-Pasquier, 62 — an experienced manager of artistic and musical events who enjoys the support of the foundation — as part of the leadership. The team could also include non-family professionals such as star German conductor Christian Thielemann and cultural manager Peter Ruzicka, Wagner suggested, according to the report.

As ever, the soap opera continues.

Stay tuned.