Variations on Wagner: Romeo Castellucci’s revived production of ‘Tannhäuser’ is not the only imaginative response to Wagner’s work enjoyed by Richard Laing at the Salzburg Easter Festival

Immediately after the second performance of Tannhäuser in Salzburg, festival-goers were recalled to their seats in the Großes Festspielhaus, so that Herbert von Karajan’s daughter could present prizes to three young creatives whose combined age roughly equalled the average age of the audience. Several of the ticketholders who were now applauding warmly had been looking disapprovingly at the prizewinners’ funky attire in the lobby just before the performance. Clearly there is a need to encourage a younger, more diverse audience, and to overcome some conservative attitudes.