The Bayreuth Festival is a music festival held annually in Bayreuth, Germany, at which performances of operas by 19th century composer Richard Wagner are presented. Wagner himself conceived and promoted the idea of a special festival to showcase his own works, in particular his monumental cycle Der Ring des Nibelungen. Performances take place in a specially designed theatre, the Festpielhaus. Wagner personally supervised the design and construction of the theatre, which contained many architectural innovations to accommodate the huge orchestras for which Wagner wrote as well as the composer’s particular vision about the staging of his works. The Festival has become a pilgrimage destination for Wagner enthusiasts, who often wait many years to obtain tickets.