"From the earliest days of its festivals, to sing or conduct at Bayreuth was to receive the accolade of greatness in the Wagnerian field. Glance through the programmes of the past and one finds a galaxy of famous names. They all considered it the highest honour they could win and came, in the old days, for very low fees. Artistically and professionally the Bayreuth hallmark ensured engagements wherever an operahouse aspired to the best, and with that came big money. Penelope Turing: "Hans Hotter - Man and Artist" p 120