Stage Lighting

The 1876 stage lights were fuelled by gas. Wagner had considered producing his own gas, but it turned out to be cheaper to buy it from the regional factory. A new pipeline was constructed to transport the gas from the factory to the theatre. The Bayreuth Festspielhaus still made use of the traditional footlights at the front of the stage that illuminated the performers from below. Brandt, elaborating one of Sempers novel ideas, placed some additional lamps at the inner side of the proscenium, thus complementing the footlights with light from above. This created a more natural effect on the stage.

Gas lighting, as opposed to candles and oil lamps, made it possible to control the intensity of the light. The flame was brighter altogether. Coloured glass plates were used to produce coloured light. Lighting also involved the use of coloured glass slides projected onto the stage by a magic lantern.

In 1888, the theatre got electricity. Friedrich Kranich was in charge of the works. He replaced the (much outdated) footlights by side - and front lights. Electricity facilitated a more nuanced use of lighting, and the light became more important in establishing the mood on the stage - the rather crude effect of the gas light had limited the lighting designers considerably. Kranich Jr., who succeeded his father in 1924, inserted a light bridge, thus creating even more flexibility in the use of light. More lamps could be used and they could be positioned more accurately.

The Bayreuth Festspielhaus always tried to keep up with new lighting developments and always acquired the most advanced lighting equipment. Today the lighting system is very elaborate and complex. A view behind the proscenium shows the large amount of lamps used in performance. If the gaslights used in the very first Festivals were manually controlled, electricity created increasing possibilities. Today the lighting system is fully computerised.