A significant classical music event held annually in honor of Richard Wagner. Wagner himself conceived of and promoted the idea of a special opera festival to showcase his own works. He personally supervised a construction of a specially built theatre in a small German city Bayreuth. In the eyes of many the Bayreuth Festival Opera House is the only ideal setting for Wagner's art to be perceived best of all. The Festival, indeed, draws thousands of Wagner fans and getting of tickets is very difficult - waiting time may reach even ten years! The performances at Bayreuth Festspielhaus are always a happening - each year new and, as considered, progressive directors are invited to stage opera performances there. If you are not patient enough to wait or Wagner's music does not enrapture you so much (which is almost a prerequisite for visiting Bayreuth) but you still wish to attend a very good „Old European" festival of serious music, then chose Salzburg (www.salzburgfestival.at) or Lucerne (www.lucernefestival.ch) in stead.