A Brighton drag artist in Bayreuth would not have fazed Wagner | Martin Kettle

The German composer was all in favour of innovation, unlike the operatic conservatives who booed Le Gateau Chocolat

Picture this. A black British drag artist, all decked out in a blond wig, high heels, pink tights and a tutu, takes a curtain call at the Bayreuth festival and is vigorously booed – and later horribly trolled – by the so-called Wagnerian ultras in an exclusive black-tie audience that includes the German chancellor, Angela Merkel, herself.

This is not fake news or some invented nightmare hallucination. On the contrary, such an event actually took place last week at Richard Wagner’s own theatre in Bavaria, where lovers of the composer flock each summer to hear his works at what is without question the most written about opera festival of them all.

Related: From hip-hop theatre to bearded drag, cabaret is open to everyone

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Published on August 01, 2019 10:44
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