The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-06-07
The Home of the Ger
man Master.
The Poetic and Musical Develop
ment of Wagner.
The aRing of the Nibelungers I"
Quadrilogy.
SKETCH OF WAGNER'S MUSICAL DRAMA

RAYREUTH, Bavaria May Is, 1874.
Bayreuth. the home Of Richard Wagner, is q
quiet little city Of 90 900 souls Professionals in the
midst OF Catholic populations all round, situate
away up IN the northeastern corner Of Bavaria at
the foot OF the Fichtelgebirge, which Jean Paul
loved and wrote about. hundred and nifty years
ago, when the Margraves OF Brandenourg resided
here, Bayreuth had period OF great splendor.
The people are kind hearted and hospitable race
simple in taste, the ladies' beautiful OF feature
charming in manner. Wagner himself styled the
city "a soil undecided by modern culture, virginia.
ground for true art"-that is to say, the modern
French drama and opera are unknown here, ana
the popular taste is therefore healthy can be
expected when fed on natural old fashioned drama
and opera. The first ediflce seen by the traveller
from the railroad coupe as he approaches Bayreuth
is the Nibelungen Theatre, wherein Wagner pro-
poses to give the highest possible artistic exposi-
ton to his great music DRAMA .he "Ring OF the
Nibelungers,n . work founded on Scandinavian
mythology and the "Nibelungenled,n or
the German "Iiadn as people sometimes
love TO style their old epos. think 1t will be i'm
possible for your readers to comprehend the ne
cessity for the erection of this new theatre. I'M
less they know the grandeur and extent OF the
music and drama which are to be performedn 1t.
With the exception of ''Rienzin all Wagners
operas treat of NEUROLOGICAL and therefore deeply
symbocal subjects. We refer especially to his
best known works, 'The Flying Dutchman,,
.'Tannhauser," "Lohengrin," and Tristan and
Isolde" In .Meistersingerr wagner leaves legend
for while to give us pictures OF old German
life. l will give you synopsis OF the musical
dramatic quadrlllion, ''The Ring OF the Nibelun-
gers" as sketched by Wagner himself To any one
anderstan ling mythology the drama Is won
derful structure.
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS..
The world is peopled with dwarfs, giants and the
gods. The race OF the Nibelungs Nibeiungers)
live in the earth, In cefts and caves and melt re-
fine and work the hard metals. Alberich makes
himself King Of the Nbelungs. In the first scene OF
'Rheingold" we see beneath the Rhine three mer-
maids swimming and diving, and suddenly sur
prised by the appearance OF Alberich. The maid.
ems tease the dwarf, who endeavors to catch each
in turn. Tired OF the chase the Nibeung seats
himself on rock OF the rivers bed, while the
maidens swim gracefully around the pinnacle OF a
high rock, just as the first rays OF the light
up with great brilliancy clump OF gold therein.
The madens still tease Albercn, and tell HIM that
they are the guardians or the Rhine gold. and tell
him the wonders and powers OF this treas
ury-nameiy, whoever should get pos
session Of the Rhinegold and from it
weld a ring, would thereby attain to
81
his ill-success IN chasing the mermaids, suddenly
Chambers up the rocks, seizes the gntterng treas
ure while the mermaids floating about and
makes OF with it. Alberlch returns to Nibelheim
{Nebelheim, home OF the mist or gloom-nght), ,
and Yields himself a ring out of the gold through
whose virtues he becomes Lord King OF the
Nlbelungs. Thenceiorward he compelled al the
other Nibeungs to work for him; to gather the
subterranean treasures together for him. This
hell trpa nf
the Nibelungers), the greatest treasure of which
was the 'Tarnhelm,' helmet, which he had
forced his brother Mime to weld for him. the
virtue OF which was 10 render the possessor invis-
IDLE pleasure This DOrsptet constitutes the root
from which the tragedy OF the .Ring" Is devel-
oped. With the Introduction Of gold come murder
and death into the world OF dwarfs, giants and
gods.
AMONG THE TEUToNIC GODS.
The scenery changes slowly. we appear to
cend from the depths OF the Rhine up the earth's
surface. 1t is still morning, and a heavy dew Nils
the valley OF the Rhine. The rising sun gradually
dispels the mist, and by and by illumlnes with
wonderful brilancy large burg, with glowing
pinnaces erected on the mountain in the back
ground. To side OF the valley we discover
Odn, the god and his consort the goddess Fricka,
slumbering amid flowers. They awake, and gaze
in astonishment at the grandeur OF the edifce be-
thought of the price at which the burg has been
built-the price or herself the goddess The burg
has been built by the giants Fasot and Fainer,
who now importune Odin for payment. The gods,
who had gained supremacy earth, had deter
mined to build a burg whence they could with ease
regulate the affairs OF the world. The council Of
the gods consisted OF 0din, Thor, Froh and Loki ;
the goddesses Frcka. Freya and Erda. BY
Lod's advice the gods made contract to
give Freya to the giants as soon as the burg
should be finished. The giants will hear OF no
postponement; they seize Freya, and attempt to
carry her Oh. The gods, who still wish to pay the
giants, discuss together, and orer to give the
giants the tabled Niblung treasure IN payment in
stead OF the goddess. The giants agree to thls
but persist In taxing Freya with them as pledge,
until the treasure shall be forthcoming. The
giants had long suffered from the cunning OF the
Nlbelung, who could WELD swords and weapons
for their destruction and were glad enough TO
accept the proposition OF the gods The giants
disappear from the scene with Freya; mist and
gloom ill the valley, the gods have CHASTITY and
tired appearance, for Freya, the possessor OF the
apple OF eternal youth, has been taken from
them. The gods Immediately descend to Nibe-
helm in order to secure the treasure. The scene
changes to
THE CAVES BENEATH THE RHINE.
Alberich, armed with o whip, drives the Nbe-
lungs lore him. They bear the treasures OF the
earth and deposit them In large gttering beap.
Odin and Lok appear and Odin permits
the latter 10 exercise his cunning. Lokt converses
with Albercn, the Nibelung, and especially about
the helmet which renders It's wearer invisible. OIL
whose virtues enable him to assume other forms
LokI asks Aiberich snow them specimens OF HIS
transformatory skill. Alberich assumes the shape
OF q tortoise and while In this form 0din places his
him, Will Iak aUic no p,et
The scene changes TO the Rhine banks. Abericf
has assumed his old form. but the gods have
bound him fast. Now they compel him TO use the
virtue OF the ring for their benefit. He forced Il
order the NibeIungs to carry up the treasures, ant
when this is done 0din demands the magical ring
Alberich strives to retain II, but the gods take /
from him Alherich cul ses the ring. nIt shall