The culture secretary for the state of Bavaria says the state “cannot continue to devote taxpayers’ money to the Bayreuth festival, given the uncertainty of its future. He has made no secret of the fact that he would like the 81-year-old Wolfgang Wagner to step down by the end of 2002. Despite the fact that all the festival performances are heavily sold out, Wagner is not prepared to give up the job or state subsidies, and pressure over the financial situation is growing.” – Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung