Gudrun Wagner
Encyclopedia
Gudrun Wagner was the wife of Wolfgang Wagner
, sole director of the Bayreuth Festival
since 1967. Her behind-the-scenes influence led her to be considered virtual co-director.
, East Prussia
. She grew up in Lower Bavaria
near Regensburg
, where she was moved at the age of four weeks because of World War II
. She worked as a secretary in the press department of the Bayreuth Festival from 1965. In 1970 she married Dietrich Mack, editor of Cosima Wagner
's diary. She later became the assistant of Wolfgang Wagner, the grandson of Richard Wagner
and director of the Bayreuth Festival which the composer founded.
She and Wolfgang Wagner each divorced their spouses in order to marry each other in 1976. Their daughter Katharina
, who succeeded her father as co-director of the festival, was born in 1978.
Although officially keeping a low profile, she exercised influence on the festival from behind the scenes. Wolfgang Wagner's attempt in 2001 to install his wife as successor did not pass a vote of the board of the festival foundation.
She had been recovering from an operation in hospital in Bayreuth when she died.
Wolfgang Wagner
Wolfgang Wagner was a German opera director. He is best known as the director of the Bayreuth Festival, a position he initially assumed alongside his brother Wieland in 1951 until the latter's death in 1966...
, sole director of the Bayreuth Festival
Bayreuth Festival
The Bayreuth Festival is a music festival held annually in Bayreuth, Germany, at which performances of operas by the 19th century German composer Richard Wagner are presented...
since 1967. Her behind-the-scenes influence led her to be considered virtual co-director.
Biography
Wagner was born as Gudrun Armann in AllensteinOlsztyn
Olsztyn is a city in northeastern Poland, on the Łyna River. Olsztyn has been the capital of the Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship since 1999. It was previously in the Olsztyn Voivodeship...
, East Prussia
Province of East Prussia
The Province of East Prussia was a province of Prussia from 1773–1829 and 1878-1945. Composed of the historical region East Prussia, the province's capital was Königsberg ....
. She grew up in Lower Bavaria
Lower Bavaria
Lower Bavaria is one of the seven administrative regions of Bavaria, Germany, located in the east of the state.- Geography :Lower Bavaria is subdivided into two regions - Landshut and Donau-Wald. Recent election results mark it as the most conservative part of Germany, generally giving huge...
near Regensburg
Regensburg
Regensburg is a city in Bavaria, Germany, located at the confluence of the Danube and Regen rivers, at the northernmost bend in the Danube. To the east lies the Bavarian Forest. Regensburg is the capital of the Bavarian administrative region Upper Palatinate...
, where she was moved at the age of four weeks because of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. She worked as a secretary in the press department of the Bayreuth Festival from 1965. In 1970 she married Dietrich Mack, editor of Cosima Wagner
Cosima Wagner
Cosima Francesca Gaetana Wagner, née de Flavigny, from 1844 known as Cosima Liszt; was the daughter of Hungarian composer Franz Liszt...
's diary. She later became the assistant of Wolfgang Wagner, the grandson of Richard Wagner
Richard Wagner
Wilhelm Richard Wagner was a German composer, conductor, theatre director, philosopher, music theorist, poet, essayist and writer primarily known for his operas...
and director of the Bayreuth Festival which the composer founded.
She and Wolfgang Wagner each divorced their spouses in order to marry each other in 1976. Their daughter Katharina
Katharina Wagner
Katharina Wagner is a German opera stage-director and co-director of the Bayreuth Festival. She is the daughter of Wolfgang Wagner, great-granddaughter of Richard Wagner and great-great granddaughter of Hungarian composer Ferenc Liszt.She notably staged Der fliegende Holländer in Würzburg and...
, who succeeded her father as co-director of the festival, was born in 1978.
Although officially keeping a low profile, she exercised influence on the festival from behind the scenes. Wolfgang Wagner's attempt in 2001 to install his wife as successor did not pass a vote of the board of the festival foundation.
She had been recovering from an operation in hospital in Bayreuth when she died.