Katharina Wagner, the great-grand daughter of Richard Wagner, is currently director of the festival. Tristan und Isolde was first performed in 1865 and provided inspiration to many composers including Mahler, Strauss, Szymanowski and Berg. It is widely acknowledged as one of the peaks of the operatic repertoire, and has been performed regularly since its premiere. This production, by renowned director Christoph Marthaler, stars leading Wagner exponents Robert Dean Smith and Iréne Theorin in the title roles, supported by the Bayreuth Festival Chorus and Orchestra conducted by Peter Schneider.