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The concert hall in Bayreuth
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Character is Beauty
Richard Wagner and Bayreuth go together like Tristan and Isolde. The rest of the world only really began to take notice of Bayreuth in the 19th century. That was when Wagner, the Teutonic Opera master, turned the Opera House on the city's "Grüner Hügel" or Green Hill, into the main arena for Siegfried, Parsifal and the rest of his heroes. Every year during the summer months, the fortissimo of the Richard Wagner Festival drowns out all other sounds in Bayreuth. And that's somewhat unfortunate, since Bayreuth has more to offer than just the music of Wagner.
More than just Wagner
The city in Bavaria's Upper Franconia region not only holds surprises for the Wagner devotees but for other visitors as well. Bayreuth is by no means dominated by the heavy sounds of Wagnerian operas. Quite the contrary: in the city's rococo parks, fountains, artificial grottos and tree-lined arcades contrast perfectly with the simple grace of Bayreuth's historic houses and public buildings.
Much of the credit for this lively ambiance has to go to the Countess Wilhelmine. She brought the rococo style to the region of UpperFranconia. Starting in 1732, she commissioned garden designers and landscape architects to transform Franconian farmland around the New Palace into grand parks and gardens. Bayreuth was artistically noteworthy long before Wagner. The city drew poets like German Jean Paul, who lived in Bayreuth until his death more than 175 years ago. The people of Bayreuth honored him with a dignified funeral-due in no small part to the sharp-tongued bard's delicate words for his adopted city.
The “In” Scene, Art and Africa
And there is little to criticize in the city today. A small but vibrant alternative scene has developed in Bayreuth between Richard Wagner Strasse, the Hohenzollern Ring, and Jean Paul Square. But that's not that surprising. The seven thousand students from Bayreuth University, which was founded in the 1970s, play a big role in the life of the city, which has 75,000 people. The artist Wo Sarazen and his sculptures, the Jazz Festival, the Cabaret Days, or events hosted by the University's Africa Center are just a few of the highlights. The Africa Center is actually called the "Iwalewa-Haus". Iwalewa is an African phrase that means "Character is beauty". And Bayreuth definitely has character.
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