Mourners pay tribute to Wagner grandson

[April 20, 2010]  BAYREUTH, Germany (AP) -- Some 1,500 people including German Chancellor Angela Merkel have paid tribute to Wolfgang Wagner, the grandson of Richard Wagner and longtime leader of the Bayreuth opera festival.

Wagner died on March 21 at age 90. He led the festival dedicated to his grandfather's works from 1951 until 2008.

Sunday's memorial service at the opera house built by the composer featured music from "Lohengrin," "Goetterdaemmerung" and "Die Meistersinger von Nuernberg," directed by star German conductor Christian Thielemann.

The German news agency DAPD reported that Wagner's daughters, Katharina and Eva - the new festival directors - attended the memorial along with his sister Verena.

Bavarian Governor Horst Seehofer says that Wagner's "life's work will endure."

[Associated Press]

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