End this discord, politicians urge warring Wagners

On Saturday, 17 February 2001, The Sydney Morning Herald carried an article from The Daily Telegraph [London] by Toby Helm in Berlin under the above heading. Helm reported that the German Government had "weighed into the country's most famous family feud yesterday, demanding that Wolfgang Wagner, 81, grandson of the composer Richard Wagner, should give way in a row over who should succeed him as head of the Bayreuth opera festival."

The regional culture minister of Bavaria, Hans Zehetmair, was reported as threatening that contracts "for the rent of public buildings used for the festival could be cancelled if a new generation is not allowed to take up the reins."

As most of us are are aware, the Wagners have split into warring groups: Wagner and his second wife Gudrun, and his daughter, Katharina Wagner, versus another daughter, Eva Wagner-Pasquier and younger members of the family. As most of also know, Herr Wagner

has refused to resign until he can ensure his wife takes over. Herr Zehetmair was also reported as saying, "Bavaria has clearly come out in favour of Eva Wagner-Pasquier." Despite fears expressed by some conservatives, according to Helm, Eva Wagner-Pasquier is said by her supporters to be keen to preserve the traditions of Bayreuth.