The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-09-27

more than once postponed, had drawn to-
gether a large and intelligent audience OF
dGtottORt artists and critics, some from places
as far a-field as London, Paris and Florence,
proud to get admission TO the rehearsal, and
the majority, at least, disposed to believe and
accept whatever the archimage of modern
German opera might vouchsafe TO set before
them. Curious it was to observe how the
most fervent Of the congregation began to
shrink and to look anxiously hither
and thither as ''the allegory" at the
bottom of the Rhine was unfolded-nay,
should not rather say, enveloped in fresh
mystery? There was weak attempt
at moribund enthusiasm when all was over;
but this was as significantly transient as it was
weak. subsequently the faithful have made
some attempt to rally in hooks and corners by
the declaration, as old as theatrical defeat,
that the work had been too hastily produced
and unfairly treated. Who does not know
such imputations and defenses by heart ? L
recollect an old amateur player belonging to
a quartette not unlike that of ''Monsieur Pat
tier, whimsically described by Paul de Kock,
who, when his evenings work was over, took
off his spectacles wiped his forehead, and
sadly said, "IIad there not been a cobweb in
my violoncello ] should have been heard
better"
Cobweb or no cobweb, however, the end of
the whole absurdity was that, subsequent to
this rehearsal, the production of Dds hbejI-
g0Sd did not take place as advertised. For the
utter absence of anything like cordiality at
the rehearsal on the part of the audience,
''packed" as it was, some reason must needs
be given, and Herr Richter is said to have
pleaded for more rehearsal, being seconded by
telegraphic instructions to that effect for the
music, or the music did not fit the scenery, or
the actors failed to act properly (where there
is nothing to act), or to sing correctly
music (in every scene of which hundred
false notes, more or less, would make not the
slightest difference.) Thus ran the excuses,
after ten weeks intense and arduous prepara-
ton To this peremptory refusal was re-
turned by the Court manager of the theatre,
Baron Won Perfall, and, it may be presumed
with the consent of Herr Wagner's ''kingly
friend'-Herr Richter was, on the spot,
suspended, and, to my certain knowledge,
half a dozen R0po0lReiSters, who had been
drawn to Munich by curiosity, were tempted
to assume the dangerous responsibility.
All save one declined. But matters, as l left
them, were at "a dead lock-" owing to
the assumptions of Herr Wagner, who is
nothing if not prosecuted, or when brewing
storm. That, for the moment, he will make
capital out of his last and worst attempt on
public credulity may be safely predicated.
The end is not yet Meanwhile, no one need
be surprised should the composer recover OF
regain his Court ascendancy; if the vindica-
ton of cause 50 utterly worthless as his, and
so utterly distasteful to all right Judging
people, were to lead to a repetition of those
scandals which marked the close of the career
of King Louis of Bavaria, who, with all his
favoritisms and fopperies in art, proved him
self far wiser and wider patron than his
successor has hitherto done by his champion
ship of the trashy productions of the author
of Das Rhe5ag0Ld. Never, surely, was there
such storm in slop-basin.