Opera: High-Flying Dutchman

For the first time in two decades, out side producers have been making their mark on the Festspielhaus, the Wagner family's private preserve in the 12th century town of Bayreuth. Richard Wag ner originally built the opera house in 1876 as a setting in which his music dramas would continue to be produced ex actly as he originally directed. Through the years, the composer's family followed his wishes, using the house for productions of Wagnerian operas that adhered slavishly — and sometimes stodgily — to the Master's wishes. After World War II,...

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