The Salzburg Festival historically steered clear of Wagner under the dubious premise that it might steal away custom from many-times-oversubscribed Bayreuth.
But next year, in celebration of the bicentary of the composer's birth, there will be a fully staged Meistersinger, plus a concert version of Rienzi.
The Verdi bicentenary will be celebrated with three productions: Don Carlos with Jonas Kaufmann in the title role, Il Trovatore and a concert version of Nabucco. The Festival will open with Così fan tutte directed by Sven-Eric Bechtolf and conducted by Franz Welser-Möst, and La Cenerentola is also on the cards.
Local gossip is that Plácido Domingo will sing the baritone role of Luna in Il Trovatore. Intermezzo on the other hand suspects that if Plácido turns up it is more likely to be in the title role of Nabucco.
