Actress Veronica Ferres and her partner Carsten Maschmeyer arrive at the opening of the Bayreuth Festival 2010 in Bayreuth, Germany, 25 July 2010. The 99th festival opens with the opera 'Lohengrin'. The one-month festival is Germany's most prestigious culture event and devoted to operas by Richard Wagner. Photo: Tobias Hase dpa/lby +++(c) dpa - Bildfunk+++
Actress Veronica Ferres and her partner Carsten Maschmeyer arrive at the opening of the Bayreuth Festival 2010 in Bayreuth, Germany, 25 July 2010. The 99th festival opens with the opera 'Lohengrin'. The one-month festival is Germany's most prestigious culture event and devoted to operas by Richard Wagner. Photo: Tobias Hase dpa/lby +++(c) dpa - Bildfunk+++ © dpa/DPA | dpa
German chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU) arrives at the opening of the Bayreuth Festival 2010 in Bayreuth, Germany, 25 July 2010. The 99th festival opens with the opera 'Lohengrin'. The one-month festival is Germany's most prestigious culture event and devoted to operas by Richard Wagner. Photo: David Ebener dpa/lby +++(c) dpa - Bildfunk+++
German chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU) arrives at the opening of the Bayreuth Festival 2010 in Bayreuth, Germany, 25 July 2010. The 99th festival opens with the opera 'Lohengrin'. The one-month festival is Germany's most prestigious culture event and devoted to operas by Richard Wagner. Photo: David Ebener dpa/lby +++(c) dpa - Bildfunk+++ © dpa/DPA | dpa
Michael Hohl (CSU), mayor of Bayreuth, and his wife Hannelore arrive at the opening of the Bayreuth Festival 2010 in Bayreuth, Germany, 25 July 2010. The 99th festival opens with the opera 'Lohengrin'. The one-month festival is Germany's most prestigious culture event and devoted to operas by Richard Wagner. Photo: Tobias Hase dpa/lby +++(c) dpa - Bildfunk+++
Michael Hohl (CSU), mayor of Bayreuth, and his wife Hannelore arrive at the opening of the Bayreuth Festival 2010 in Bayreuth, Germany, 25 July 2010. The 99th festival opens with the opera 'Lohengrin'. The one-month festival is Germany's most prestigious culture event and devoted to operas by Richard Wagner. Photo: Tobias Hase dpa/lby +++(c) dpa - Bildfunk+++ © dpa/DPA | dpa
Bavarian Minister of Health and Environment Markus Soeder (CSU) and his wife Karin Baumüller-Soeder arrive at the opening of the Bayreuth Festival 2010 in Bayreuth, Germany, 25 July 2010. The 99th festival opens with the opera 'Lohengrin'. The one-month festival is Germany's most prestigious culture event and devoted to operas by Richard Wagner. Photo: Tobias Hase dpa/lby +++(c) dpa - Bildfunk+++
Bavarian Minister of Health and Environment Markus Soeder (CSU) and his wife Karin Baumüller-Soeder arrive at the opening of the Bayreuth Festival 2010 in Bayreuth, Germany, 25 July 2010. The 99th festival opens with the opera 'Lohengrin'. The one-month festival is Germany's most prestigious culture event and devoted to operas by Richard Wagner. Photo: Tobias Hase dpa/lby +++(c) dpa - Bildfunk+++ © dpa/DPA | dpa
Bavarian Prime Minister Horst Seehofer (CSU) and his wife Karin arrive at the opening of the Bayreuth Festival 2010 in Bayreuth, Germany, 25 July 2010. The 99th festival opens with the opera 'Lohengrin'. The one-month festival is Germany's most prestigious culture event and devoted to operas by Richard Wagner. Photo: Tobias Hase dpa/lby +++(c) dpa - Bildfunk+++
Bavarian Prime Minister Horst Seehofer (CSU) and his wife Karin arrive at the opening of the Bayreuth Festival 2010 in Bayreuth, Germany, 25 July 2010. The 99th festival opens with the opera 'Lohengrin'. The one-month festival is Germany's most prestigious culture event and devoted to operas by Richard Wagner. Photo: Tobias Hase dpa/lby +++(c) dpa - Bildfunk+++ © dpa/DPA | dpa
Bavarian Prime Minister Horst Seehofer (CSU, L) greets guests as he arrives at the opening of the Bayreuth Festival 2010 in Bayreuth, Germany, 25 July 2010. The 99th festival opens with the opera 'Lohengrin'. The one-month festival is Germany's most prestigious culture event and devoted to operas by Richard Wagner. Photo: Tobias Hase dpa/lby +++(c) dpa - Bildfunk+++
Bavarian Prime Minister Horst Seehofer (CSU, L) greets guests as he arrives at the opening of the Bayreuth Festival 2010 in Bayreuth, Germany, 25 July 2010. The 99th festival opens with the opera 'Lohengrin'. The one-month festival is Germany's most prestigious culture event and devoted to operas by Richard Wagner. Photo: Tobias Hase dpa/lby +++(c) dpa - Bildfunk+++ © dpa/DPA | dpa
German Minister of Defence Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg (CSU, 2nd L), his wife baroness Stephanie of Guttenberg (L), showmaster Thomas Gottschalk and his wife Thea arrive at the opening of the Bayreuth Festival 2010 in Bayreuth, Germany, 25 July 2010. The 99th festival opens with the opera 'Lohengrin'. The one-month festival is Germany's most prestigious culture event and devoted to operas by Richard Wagner. Photo: Tobias Hase dpa/lby +++(c) dpa - Bildfunk+++
German Minister of Defence Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg (CSU, 2nd L), his wife baroness Stephanie of Guttenberg (L), showmaster Thomas Gottschalk and his wife Thea arrive at the opening of the Bayreuth Festival 2010 in Bayreuth, Germany, 25 July 2010. The 99th festival opens with the opera 'Lohengrin'. The one-month festival is Germany's most prestigious culture event and devoted to operas by Richard Wagner. Photo: Tobias Hase dpa/lby +++(c) dpa - Bildfunk+++ © dpa/DPA | dpa
German chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU) arrives at the opening of the Bayreuth Festival 2010 in Bayreuth, Germany, 25 July 2010. The 99th festival opens with the opera 'Lohengrin'. The one-month festival is Germany's most prestigious culture event and devoted to operas by Richard Wagner. Photo: David Ebener dpa/lby +++(c) dpa - Bildfunk+++
German chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU) arrives at the opening of the Bayreuth Festival 2010 in Bayreuth, Germany, 25 July 2010. The 99th festival opens with the opera 'Lohengrin'. The one-month festival is Germany's most prestigious culture event and devoted to operas by Richard Wagner. Photo: David Ebener dpa/lby +++(c) dpa - Bildfunk+++ © dpa/DPA | dpa