The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-02-05

home was certainly the legendary Rhine. Why
OLD BURGUNDIAN KINGS.
wnsr the legend o. the msG
.es Worms vs. Il hsvnS Deen nTSsa
marriage gift, afterwards Il Is seized ON by
hagen and sunk IN the River Rhine" could only oe
explained In the lac. that the musician mad selected
Bavaran city out OF regard for King Ludwig, GER
tainly his best and most LIBERAL patron
wAGNER's SPEECH.
Wagner was evidently touched by the devotion or
his disciples. He answered In earnest Impressive
himself to IN the WY as q bis
plans. The great past the constant interest for
art and artists that had always prevailed there had
There, too, was TO be still found the truly German
feeling-not IN the larger cities not IN the homes Of
seieoling the little town OF Baireuih as
the place Tor his Festal Theatre. The same
case csss0 Of Mannheim. Bslreain hes IN the very
BAVARIA, the land whose King mad shown INN 50
he had been enabled to complete his work uninter-
ruptedy IN quiet and without cares. But in order
operation OF enthusiastic friends who clustered
around him. and Mannheim had been the first 10 aid
Mann6emers were the first to confirm his faith IN
the practical realization OF hs plans. They had
him where the true sou for the
modern cuiturs;'' il was still virgin SOL for true
arllfe would arise. he hoped this confidently, and
concluded with Hochi TO his friends in Mannheim
And TO the hrstfounders ard President OF the Mann
HEINZ Wagner Association.
AN INTERVIEW rH WAGNER.
The banquet lasted long. Before II ended music
Mannheim "Maennergesangverein had brought an
ovation to Wagner. Early next morning the com.
talk with the Wagner xssoclation and your CORE.
sp0ndent In answer TO my request Tor clear de-
wagner said tnas 1.-The iessal play viii OCCUPY
four evenings for Its performance, and under my
place Of performance. and the summer months Of
1873 s as the time NY M, nrss
to erect an especial sheasre for the per-
formance Of my play:
for the theatre ana performances IL 500 600 thalers
(about quarter OF O million OF dOlars). This money
VIII be raised from the sale OF thousand patrons'
ttlng the p0ssessor to attend the three repetitons
OF the play. Three persons can, however, Join in
for tnsers viii Be enabled 70 Sc the four
ARTS OF the 'Nlbelungen.' he Ii not compelled TO
see them on successive evenings, but can so arrange
1t with the Joint pOSsessOrs OF the ckeC that ne
distribute mis- time over the three repetions OF the
play. An especial theatre wll be erected,
soiidity and exterior Of Which viii. however,
F Ss ana e
rangements Tor the especial OBJECT OF the perform
an ancs Of the play nave tl%s to arrange until
musicians chosen by me expressly LOT the occasion,
WIN meet at Baireuth and July TWO months viii
Portable seats will be placed at the disposal OF those
patrons and promoters oil my undertaking whO
whose hands place this part OF the necessary
work. shall have brought together means enabling
my plan to be carried into execution AS secretary
to whom all moneys Tor the purchase OIL patrons
tickets are to be sent-the Baron Won Cohn, OF Des
sau court banker Of KAISER William, Of Germany,
the site selected for the .sNibeungen Tneatrep IL
on an elevation outside the city, called the Stuck
berg and Is owned fortunately by warm friend
will occupy 10 estimated ut
ONE AND HALF BAvARIAN ACRES,
and space equally large 10 reserved for park
grounds outside the ediflce. Wagner has certainly
an eye for beauty, as well % for the praccaoillty
the theatre stands east ana west CHARMING views
OF the ffchtelgebiree are 70 be obtained. Another
reason besides the one Of beauty for the selection
render his orchestra invisible-tnat IL, 10
SINK .,t the place for the musicians below
theatre, learn arc be built solid, the former
fundamentally decorated, while the part devoted 10
win nave width Of 10 feet. the length Of the buiid.
ing being 24o feet. and the portion devoted to the
lSO feet For the building OF the theatre 100, 600
forms have been set apart and for the machinery
Norma was ss s1ons % as on the "a
Prusslan Minister, Won Schlemtz, Is also expected
to put in an appearance. The city will have ample
strangers that viii attend during the estal season.
committee In Baireulh Will provide for ali emer.
gencies.
wAGNER's PECULIAR NOTIONS.
It Is now nearly twenty years since Wagner first
wrote tho text to MS '.Nlbeungen." He was every
where hailed as an 'enthusast," and his emusic OF
the Future" was made the butt OF the '.musik
Wagner's reform principles have gradually come to
associations IN all the large clues OF Germany proves
that movement In his favor Is growing every day.
Wagners theories are 80 well known to the musical
world that 1t Is unnecessary to devote much space
TO them here. He says IN brie that all that exists
under the name OF German opera" deserves to he
musical ana dramatic art Is mistake.
for in tins genre Of art the means Of
aim OF expression the drama) Is made the means.
Wagner comes to the conclusion that the true
"opera or art work OF the future' the combination
OF all the arts-muslc, painting poetry ana song.
In this aim Gluck preceded him In endeavoring TO
create the musical tragedy" and Goethe himself
which Wagner Is now tue high priest OF GERMANY
Wagner's ideas OF opera are that IN it poetry and
the most perfect ideal Illusions and thus give the
"m0st complete expression OF human svmpatnes In
the intellectual intercourse OF social existence"
The "Nibelungen" has been found too compli-
Gated and too expensive for the ordinary opera thea
Tres ire OF Germany. The "Rhelngold" and ''Dle
decided success, but so far they foreign TO the
German opera-gong public. the subject, the
an old German NEUROLOGICAL legend, "a strange TO
the majority OF Germans, and 1t has been urged by
certain critic tnas r .,,
should be prepared for the visitors to WaQner,s
iesta play otherwise. even those well in the
history OF the old Ieutonlc gods Will be puzzled.
In all Wagner's late operas The harmony OF the
text with the music is an essential point. Attend
ing the performance Of the "Nibelungen- without
Understanding the LEGENDS OF the Old heaihen GODS
would prove as unsatisfactory, perhaps, as n q
Mussulman were to make pilgrimage TO the Pas
sion Play at Der-Ammergau. The music, solos,
chorus, action are all beauulul; but the harmony
would De lost in the non-comprehension OF the suD-
yect. Dingelstedt, while theatrical director AT
Welmal, IOuuQ IL necessary Wneu Hebhelfs
was performed there-and Hebbel's yer.
sion follows the NiDelungen saga almost literaly-
70 attach commentary to the play bill
how much more necessary Will 1t be for
Wagners quadrifollum. when 1t Is brought out
at Baireuth In "Rhengofd,u for instance the
ancient god, W0dan, Bonner, From and Loge an
pear; the Nibelungen, ADerch, Mime, Fasolt, Fai-
ner, the g0ddesses Fricka, Freia Euda and the
Rhine daughters WOglInda Welgunda and F1os
shilda. Few will understand the elemenfarv mrfhs