Bayreuth, Germany - Enthusiastic applause greeted the new production of Wagner's Parsifal by Norwegian director Stefan Herheim at the opening of the annual Bayreuth Festival Friday evening.

Herheim presented the late work by the composer as images from an excursion through the various stages of German history. It was greeted with approbation by the VIP audience, including Chancellor Angel Merkel.

The audience was less enthusiastic about Conductor Daniele Gatti, whose interpretation of the score drew the occasional boo.

Herheim set the opera in Bayreuth itself, with the backdrop designed by Heike Scheele using Haus Wahnfried, Richard Wagner's villa in the city, as the setting for the antics of high society in the Wilhelmine period.

The singer ensemble received applause for their nuanced interpretation. Christopher Ventris, making his debut at Bayreuth, in the title role, and Detlef Roth as Amfortas, put in convincing and expressive performances.

Kwangchul Youn drew loud applause for his emotional interpretation of the long-suffering Gurnemanz.

Saturday evening was to see a revival of Tristan und Isolde by director Peter Schneider.

The festival, which is being directed for the last time by the composer's grandson, Wolfgang Wagner, runs to August 28. From next year, his daughters, half-sisters Katharina Wagner and Eva Wagner-Pasquier, take over. (dpa)