Wolfgang Wagner, the longtime director of the annual festival of Richard Wagner's operas, will step down after leading the event for nearly six decades.
A letter from the 88-year-old Wagner -- grandson of the composer who founded the festival in 1872 -- was read to reporters by his lawyer, Stefan Mueller, after a meeting of the festival's board of directors.
''For 59 years, I have been responsible for the Bayreuth Festival, now the time has come to give up that responsibility,'' Wagner wrote (although information published by the festival board says he took over in 1951). ``I hereby declare that I will abdicate the position of director for the Festival by Aug. 31.''
Last month Wagner had indicated that he was prepared to step aside even though he has a lifetime contract. At that time he indicated he would like to see his youngest daughter, 29-year-old Katharina, replace him but also noted a co-leadership with her half-sister Eva Wagner-Pasquier, 63, was also possible.
The festival board of directors had no immediate comment on the status of a possible replacement for Wagner, although his daughters have handed in a proposal for their joint directorship.
Bavarian Culture Minister Thomas Goppel, who sits on the festival board, said he was grateful to Wagner for the move and expressed confidence that a replacement could be found.
Bayreuth Mayor Michael Hohl, who also sits on the board, said that the position of festival director would be posted for the next four months. He noted, however, that descendants of Richard Wagner would be given priority.
''Someone from the outside would have to be much better,'' Hohl said.
The festival board is scheduled to meet again Sept. 1. This year's opera gala will take place as scheduled from July 25 to Aug. 28.
Since the death of his second wife and longtime assistant, Gudrun, in November, Wagner has been surrounded by speculation that he would step aside.
The move would end decades of wrangling over the festival leadership that has generated as much drama as a production of any of the operas in Wagner's Ring Cycle.
According to the board, Wolfgang Wagner and his brother Wieland took over the festival in 1951. After Wieland's death, Wolfgang became the sole director in 1967.
In 2001, the festival's board of directors, which includes federal, Bavarian state government and Bayreuth city officials, tried to force Wagner to step down by naming Wagner-Pasquier to take over.
But he refused to leave, arguing his lifetime contract gave him control over the opera house where the festival is staged each summer.
He also rejected Wieland's daughter, Nike Wagner, saying his niece was unsuitable for the job.
