Biography Early life and marriage to Siegfried Wagner Wagner was born Winifred Marjorie Williams in Hastings, to John Williams, a Welsh journalist and critic, and his English-Danish wife, Emily Florence Williams, née Karop. Orphaned before the age of two, she initially was raised in a number of homes. Eight years later, she was adopted by a distant German relative of her mother, Henrietta Karop, and her husband Karl Klindworth, a musician and a friend of Richard Wagner. thumb|upright=1.35|Siegfried Wagner and his family in 1922 The Bayreuth Festival was seen as a family business, with the leadership to be passed from Richard Wagner to his son Siegfried, but Siegfried, who was secretly bisexual, showed little interest in marriage. It was arranged that Winifred Klindworth, as she was called at the time, aged 17, would meet Siegfried Wagner, aged 45, at the Bayreuth Festival in 1914. A year later, they were married. It was hoped that the marriage would end Siegfried's homosexual encounters and the associated costly scandals and provide an heir to carry on the family business. Following their marriage on 22 September 1915, they had four children in rapid succession. After the death of Siegfried Wagner in 1930, Winifred Wagner took over the Bayreuth Festival, running it until the end of World War II.
biography early life and marriage to siegfried wagner wagner was born winifred marjorie williams in hastings to john williams a welsh journalist and critic and his english-danish wife emily florence williams née karop orphaned before the age of two she initially was raised in a number of homes eight years later she was adopted by a distant german relative of her mother henrietta karop and her husband karl klindworth a musician and a friend of richard wagner thumb|upright=135|siegfried wagner and his family in 1922 the bayreuth festival was seen as a family business with the leadership to be passed from richard wagner to his son siegfried but siegfried who was secretly bisexual showed little interest in marriage it was arranged that winifred klindworth as she was called at the time aged 17 would meet siegfried wagner aged 45 at the bayreuth festival in 1914 a year later they were married it was hoped that the marriage would end siegfried's homosexual encounters and the associated costly scandals and provide an heir to carry on the family business following their marriage on 22 september 1915 they had four children in rapid succession after the death of siegfried wagner in 1930 winifred wagner took over the bayreuth festival running it until the end of world war ii