For the first time in fifty-eight years, the Bayreuth Festival will open without Wolfgang Wagner as its leader. His daughters Katharina Wagner and Eva Wagner-Pasquier now run the festival. Also for the first time in many years, the 2009 Festival has no new productions. Christoph Marthaler's controversial staging of Tristan und Isolde will be filmed this year for live Internet transmission, public viewing in Bayreuth and later DVD release. Click here to find out how to view the live Internet transmission. Last year Stefan Herheim made his Bayreuth debut with a new production of Parsifal that was very well received by Bayreuth audiences and critics alike. This production will be released on DVD in 2010. Left: A scene from Christoph Marthaler's production of Tristan und Isolde to be broadcast over the Internet on August 9, 2009.

Click here for a schedule of the webcasts of the 2009 Bayreuth Festival performances

Below is the complete schedule, with dates and cast lists for the 2009 Bayreuth Festival

	Conductor Daniele Gatti Production Stefan Herheim  Sets Heike Scheele Costumes Gesine Völlm Director Alexander Meier-Dörzenbach Chorus Director Eberhard Friedrich Amfortas Detlef Roth Titurel Diógenes Randes Gurnemanz Kwangchul Youn Parsifal Christopher Ventris Klingsor Thomas Jesatko Kundry Mihoko Fujimura 1. Gralsritter Arnold Bezuyen 2. Gralsritter Friedemann Röhlig 1. Knappe Julia Borchert 2. Knappe Ulrike Helzel 3. Knappe Clemens Bieber 4. Knappe Timothy Oliver Klingsors Zaubermädchen Julia Borchert, Martina Rüping, Carola Guber, Christiane Kohl, Jutta Böhnert, Ulrike Helzel Altsolo Simone Schröder
Parsifal	Performances: August 2, 5, 15, 19
	Conductor Peter Schneider Production Christoph Marthaler Costumes & Stage Design Anna Viebrock Chorus Director Eberhard Friedrich     Tristan Robert Dean Smith König Marke Robert Holl Isolde Iréne Theorin Kurwenal Jukka Rasilainen Melot Ralf Lukas Brangäne Michelle Breedt Junger Seemann Clemens Bieber Ein Hirt Arnold Bezuyen Ein Steuermann Martin Snell
Tristan	Performances: July 25, August 4, 9, 13, 17, 28
	Conductor Sebastian Weigle Production Katharina Wagner Stage Design Tilo Steffens Costumes Michaela Barth / Tilo Steffens Director Robert Sollich Chorus Director Eberhard Friedrich   Hans Sachs Alan Titus Veit Pogner Artur Korn Kunz Vogelgesang Charles Reid Konrad Nachtigall Rainer Zaun Sixtus Beckmesser Adrian Eröd Fritz Kothner Markus Eiche Balthasar Zorn Edward Randall Ulrich Eisslinger Timothy Oliver Augustin Moser Florian Hoffmann Hermann Ortel Martin Snell Hans Schwarz Mario Klein Hans Foltz Diógenes Randes Walther von Stolzing Klaus Florian Vogt David Norbert Ernst Eva Michaela Kaune Magdalene Carola Guber The Night Watchman Friedemann Röhlig
Meistersinger	Performances: July 26, August 3, 6, 14, 18, 26
	Conductor Christian Thielemann Production Tankred Dorst Sets Frank Philipp Schlößmann Costumes Bernd Ernst Skodzig     Wotan Albert Dohmen Donner Ralf Lukas Froh Clemens Bieber Loge Arnold Bezuyen Fasolt Kwangchul Youn Fafner Ain Anger Alberich Andrew Shore Mime Wolfgang Schmidt Fricka Michelle Breedt Freia Edith Haller Erda Christa Mayer Woglinde Christiane Kohl Wellgunde Ulrike Helzel Flosshilde Simone Schröder
Rheingold	Performances: July 27, August 7, 20
	Conductor Christian Thielemann Production Tankred Dorst Stage Design Frank Philipp Schlößmann Costumes Bernd Ernst Skodzig     Siegmund Endrik Wottrich Hunding Kwangchul Youn Wotan Albert Dohmen Sieglinde Eva-Maria Westbroek Brünnhilde Linda Watson  Fricka Michelle Breedt Gerhilde Sonja Mühleck Ortlinde Anna Gabler Waltraute Martina Dike Schwertleite Simone Schröder Helmwige Edith Haller Siegrune Wilke te Brummelstroete Grimgerde Annette Küttenbaum Rossweisse Alexandra Petersamer
Walküre	Performances: July 28, August 8, 21
	Conductor Christian Thielemann Production Tankred Dorst Stage Design Frank Philipp Schlößmann Costumes Bernd Ernst Skodzig     Siegfried Christian Franz Mime Wolfgang Schmidt Der Wanderer Albert Dohmen Alberich Andrew Shore Fafner Ain Anger Erda Christa Mayer Brünnhilde Linda Watson Voice of the Forest Bird Christiane Kohl
Siegfried	Performances: July 30, August 10, 23
	Conductor Christian Thielemann Production Tankred Dorst Stage Design Frank Philipp Schlößmann Costumes Bernd Ernst Skodzig Chorus Director Eberhard Friedrich     Siegfried Christian Franz Gunther Ralf Lukas Hagen Hans-Peter König Alberich Andrew Shore Brünnhilde Linda Watson Gutrune Edith Haller Waltraute Christa Mayer 1. Norn Simone Schröder 2. Norn Martina Dike 3. Norn Edith Haller Woglinde Christiane Kohl Wellgunde Ulrike Helzel Flosshilde Simone Schröder
Götterdämmerung	Performances: August 1, 12, 25

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