Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1858-10-20
slmKINs, DUR1soE Is CO., ProprIetors.
EUROPEAN CORRESPONDENCE.
DRESDEN, Sept. 7th, 1858.

Tor all opera anu Ineatrc 8OerS-ioI I'LL iuusie
mad aud drama mad people. Richard Wagner
great opera "Rienzi, the last of the Tribunes'
was to be performed at the Court Theatre, ane
the Dresdeners were beside themselves Will
excitement. The representation had been an
nounced for weeks beforehand, had been three
or four times postponed on account of the in
disposition of this singing woman and that sing
ing man, had been bruited, mooted and pulled
until the whole public stood permanently upon
the tip of its big toe, and bade fair to Perish OF
hope deferred and die like the kings and proph-
cts of old "without the sight" The expenses
in the way of scenery, ballet decorations, &C.,
had been enormous, and the prices of admission
consequently doubled. All applications for
reserved seats had to be made i'll writing and
deposited with the >Cassirer, the applicants not
knowing their fate until tue morning OF the
performance. Woe to those who had not been,
as they say in Alabama, "previous." What
scene was that upon the said morning! This
deponent having been commercially "previous, .
was at rest, and went to see the tumult. Upon
honor, it battles description! Men, women and
children not only pushed, scrouged, stamped,
kicked and screamed, but actually smote each
other with violence and LlaSphelned in the most
shocking manner. Disappointed women rent
their garments and declared themselves "lost."
On all sides could be heard in the most des-
pairing or most furious tones the inevitable Ger
man exclamation, &c es ist u,n mich ozeschehen." +"
The Managers and cassirer wce loudly and
iercely accused Of partiality; villany and CHI
canery. The secondary officials of the Theatre
ran to and fro among the walters Offering the
olive branch with the announcement that the
second performance would cnsuee on the follow
ing Monday, upon which occasion all who were
now 'lost" would stand chance OF being
"found." These would-be peace makers met
with no success however, and hav'nt doubt
that the disappointment of'that morning will
bring many.a one of these irrascible Germans
several years sooner to the grave.
Who is then this Richard Wagner? lie is
one of the greatest, if not The greatest living
composer, and not only that, but q man ol
great mind and of the firmcst principles. Twelve
or fifteen years ago he was first kapell. Master
td.the King 81 saxohyy' and had fall sss@ay in
Dresden. He was however (and still isl an
unflinching republican, and in the difficulties
which arose about then, in reference to the
Schleswg and IIolstein question, declared and
preached his principles openly and independent
". For this he was banished or had TO fly, anu
now lives in Switzerland, which country shares
with our own the glory Of giving quiet refuge
to such noble eXileS. Just at this time lie had
composed "Rienzi" his first work, and it had been
once or twice performed, but after this, it was
forbidden, as have been also his later compost
tions. All these twelve or fifteen years then, Musl
cal Dresden has been denied privilege OF hear
ing the works Of itsown Wagner, which works
have been creating so great sensation through
out the world Of art. Joanna Wagner, nece
of the composer, first prinla donna OF the Royal
Opera in Berlin, one of the finest singers, and
the grandest tragic actress Of Germany, has
also, until lately, been sealed mystery to DreS-
den. Within the last two or three months
however this ban has been removed, that Is,
from the works; the author is still not permit
ted to show his republican head in SaXony.
WHY or wherefore this change have not as
certained I suppose however the "powers
that be" think fifteen years of folly and absur-
dity quite enough-at least for one time In
July came Joanna Wagner to Dresden and sang
with triumphant success in Tannhauser," the
second and best known Of her uncle's Operas.
Immediately upon her departure began this
great preparation Of F" Rienzi," which having
been composed and first brought out in Dres-
den, seemed to possess for the Drcsdeners
pecuiar cbar1n All these circumstances put
together account for the immense furore of the
preceding Saturday.
We'll. the hour is at hand, and tic bcpaintcd,
bcpowdered, bclrizzcd and beslassed hearers
and sazers are safely iixc'l in their dearly
bought seats. The ensemble is very brilliant,
for. each and every one has made an extra effort.
Mercy, how they are bcdizened! The finery,
the paint and the eye glasses have been laid On
an inch thicker than usual. The wealthy for
eieners who reside here, especially the Russians
English and Americans, lave put the best foot
foremost The English look like pictures in
comic almanac and have come apparently only
to sec how sulky and Indifferent they can ap-
pear. If such was their design, they are having
brilliant success The, Americans can scarcely
wag under the oppressive weight Of their smash
Ing. toilettes; they are full Of animation now,
but before the end of the first act they will
yawn in the most prcposterous manner. The
Germans tell an American lady Immediately by
ker elegant costume and her beauty. The Rus
SLAMS are also in grandc toilette; they are like
the Germans, and should the performance last
aninterruptedly until this day year, they would
svince no symptom of fatigue.
But Herr (Mr.) Krebs the Maestro is worry
ing on his white kids and each of the one hun
dred; d;performers in the Orchestra grasps lis
respective instrument and stands, as they say
of the old devil at revival, sin waiting pos
ture." These are the premonitory symptoms
of beginning. The Overture is very famous
and deserves its fame, lacking in flowing mclo-
dy, but very noble, very elevated, very Roman
What STORM Of applause as the last notes die
away and Herr Krebs lowers his baton! Now
til. curtain rises and discovers street in an.