Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi), is honoured to announce that it will host the Bayreuth Festival’s international opera debut of Richard Wagner’s The Valkyrie under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the United Arab Emirates, on Wednesday, January 30, 2019 and Friday, February 1, 2019 at Emirates Palace, Abu Dhabi.

The Bayreuth Festival is renowned for its outstanding performances of the 19th-Century German composer Richard Wagner’s operas, performed in a special theatre, the Bayreuth Festspielhaus, designed by Wagner himself, so that he could produce his own works. The Bayreuth Festival’s acclaimed productions receive over 500,000 ticket requests each year with only 60,000 tickets available and a waiting list of up to 9 or 10 years. As a result, Bayreuth Festival fans can eagerly anticipate the opportunity to purchase tickets for a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see this spectacular production in the UAE’s capital, performed for the first time ever outside of Germany. 

As the unmissable highlight of the Abu Dhabi Classics new season, concert-goers will experience the full musical drama of The Valkyrie, under the artistic direction of Katharina Wagner, great granddaughter of the renowned composer. The production will also include a feature length film under the artistic direction of Katharina, which will be played in the background, telling the story of The Valkyrie and revisiting the main locations that inspired Richard Wagner’s work. Renowned for their spectacular productions and standing ovations, The Bayreuth Festival’s unique production of The Valkyrie will be breathtaking.