Eva Wagner-Pasquier
Encyclopedia
Eva Wagner-Pasquier is a German opera manager. She is the daughter of Wolfgang Wagner
and Ellen Drexel. On 1 September 2008, Wagner-Pasquier and her half-sister Katharina Wagner
were named as joint directors of the Bayreuth Festival
which is largely dedicated to the stage works of their great-grandfather Richard Wagner
.
Following the death of her uncle Wieland Wagner
, Wagner-Pasquier acted as her father's assistant at Bayreuth from 1967 to 1975. She was an assistant at the Vienna State Opera
, and an opera director at the Royal Opera House
. Wagner-Pasquier oversaw opera and concert productions for the Munich-based classical music company Unitel Films until 1984. She was Director of Programming at the Opéra Bastille
from 1987–93. She has also worked for Houston Grand Opera
, the Théâtre du Châtelet
, the Teatro Real
, the Festival d'Aix-en-Provence, and is currently an Artistic Consultant to The Metropolitan Opera.
The joint appointment at Bayreuth followed a long feud in which Wolfgang had favoured his second wife Gudrun
and daughter Katharina as successors, the overseeing committee, the Richard Wagner Foundation
of Bayreuth, had favoured Eva, and Wieland's daughter Nike
had also put herself forward. The eventual compromise with both Wolfgang and the foundation supporting the sisters followed Gudrun's death in 2007.
Eva Wagner-Pasquier is married to the French film producer Yves Pasquier. They have a son Antoine Amadeus Pasquier (b. 1982).
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...
and Ellen Drexel. On 1 September 2008, Wagner-Pasquier and her half-sister Katharina Wagner
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...
were named as joint directors 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...
which is largely dedicated to the stage works of their great-grandfather 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...
.
Following the death of her uncle Wieland Wagner
Wieland Wagner
Wieland Wagner was a German opera director.- Life :Wieland was the elder of two sons of Siegfried and Winifred Wagner and grandson of composer Richard Wagner....
, Wagner-Pasquier acted as her father's assistant at Bayreuth from 1967 to 1975. She was an assistant at the Vienna State Opera
Vienna State Opera
The Vienna State Opera is an opera house – and opera company – with a history dating back to the mid-19th century. It is located in the centre of Vienna, Austria. It was originally called the Vienna Court Opera . In 1920, with the replacement of the Habsburg Monarchy by the First Austrian...
, and an opera director at the Royal Opera House
Royal Opera House
The Royal Opera House is an opera house and major performing arts venue in Covent Garden, central London. The large building is often referred to as simply "Covent Garden", after a previous use of the site of the opera house's original construction in 1732. It is the home of The Royal Opera, The...
. Wagner-Pasquier oversaw opera and concert productions for the Munich-based classical music company Unitel Films until 1984. She was Director of Programming at the Opéra Bastille
Opéra Bastille
L'Opéra Bastille ' is a modern opera house in Paris, France. It is the home base of the Opéra national de Paris and was designed to replace the Palais Garnier, which is nowadays mainly used for ballet performances....
from 1987–93. She has also worked for Houston Grand Opera
Houston Grand Opera
Houston Grand Opera Houston Grand Opera was founded in 1955 through the joint efforts of Maestro Walter Herbert and cultural leaders Mrs. Louis G. Lobit, Edward Bing and Charles Cockrell...
, the Théâtre du Châtelet
Théâtre du Châtelet
The Théâtre du Châtelet is a theatre and opera house, located in the place du Châtelet in the 1st arrondissement of Paris, France.One of two theatres built on the site of a châtelet, a small castle or fortress, it was designed by Gabriel Davioud at the request of Baron Haussmann between 1860 and...
, the Teatro Real
Teatro Real
The Teatro Real or simply El Real , is a major opera house located in Madrid, Spain.-History:...
, the Festival d'Aix-en-Provence, and is currently an Artistic Consultant to The Metropolitan Opera.
The joint appointment at Bayreuth followed a long feud in which Wolfgang had favoured his second wife Gudrun
Gudrun Wagner
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.-Biography:...
and daughter Katharina as successors, the overseeing committee, the Richard Wagner Foundation
Richard Wagner Foundation
The Richard Wagner Foundation was formed in 1973, when, faced with overwhelming criticism and Wagner family infighting, the Bayreuth Festival and its assets were transferred to the newly created Foundation...
of Bayreuth, had favoured Eva, and Wieland's daughter Nike
Nike Wagner
Nike Wagner is the director of an arts festival held annually at Weimar, Germany , and a noteworthy collaborator in the Bayreuth Festival, founded in 1876 by Richard Wagner, her paternal great-grandfather...
had also put herself forward. The eventual compromise with both Wolfgang and the foundation supporting the sisters followed Gudrun's death in 2007.
Eva Wagner-Pasquier is married to the French film producer Yves Pasquier. They have a son Antoine Amadeus Pasquier (b. 1982).
Sources
- Biography on Seattle Opera site, accessed 24 September 2008
- Roger Cohen, "Bayreuth's Director Is Told to Leave", New York Times, March 30, 2001, accessed 14 September 2008
- Der Spiegel article A Wagnerian Drama of Succession, 20 July 2007, accessed 12 January 2010
Further reading
- Carr, JonathanJonathan Carr (writer)Jonathan Carr was a British journalist and author, who lived and worked primarily in Germany.He was born in Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire....
: The Wagner Clan: The Saga of Germany's Most Illustrious and Infamous Family. Atlantic Monthly Press, 2007. ISBN 0871139758