Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-01-24
An INTERVIEW WITH KrCHARp
WAGNER

Translated for Arpi--1r's y5-r-sr7
,,s MsHins DOM the 9Siet Mslu Street Of the
one story cottage: and rang the dOov-beU.
A handsome lady arpsSsed in re- ponse.
,He IL al the opers-houss." she answered
''Hsve you any message 10 lesye"''
answered IN the negative, and she directed
Five minutes later I was AZ the spo,. Tn. al.
mensions Of this new wagnerian opers-Noa,a
are truly colossal Imagine the taree largest
theatres OF Berlin threw into one. and vav
have an idea OF the enormous ediace nov an
course Of erection Tor NJ other purpose than -
enable representations OF the " Ayner an music
OF the iuture 10 he given in a STYLE such A. the
works of no operate composer have enjoyed.
l asked laborer 10 tell me where coald u nd
Richard Wagner.
There he stands he replied. pointing 70
shirt sleeves.
One was a tall man. with black hs,r. swarthy.
features.
Thatwss Wagner, the composer Of ..ranna-
hauser and "lohengrin.n
fastened 10 III m aud SAID.
Herr Richard Wagner
he turned round to me. and, acknowledrf-y
,S ST1.ess TOOK rom ine the letter ofintrodlc
1t was from Joachim, the gres, vtoliufs,. rs
most Intimate friend. He read it Carefully. ani
My friend Joachim writes to me tia, Va,
volld Ike TO hear all about my opera mouse =
"1here have been rumors." | r-pIisi go, 4.
you would abandon the whole ENTERPRISE on
'ng TO the exhaustion o, the fuuds collected ior
He said, Iaughingly.
know that nv enc 1eS have circulated that
report Bat 1, l. groundleSs Among my trieu Is
| the rumoT has never found any crelence III ~
now be tier. They know that never .ra,-a d, a..
ANYTHING, no matter how great the Obstacles I
had 10 snrmount. Here. " he added. pointing 70
The unfinished edifice, that has cost me w,
hundred and fifty thousand dollars 1 ne,J
lhree times that amount more. Last week hat
but twelve thousand dollars in my eNcheruer
Aesterday received letter inClCS NC an order
Tor three hundred thousand dollars more. Yor
VIII 60 home with the. | will show II t. Won.
FROM" $50
said could not guess who the generou.
"why, his Baysrisu majesty sent me that
prlncely gift he said laughing.
king Lewis | exclaimed, ''but-"
"Ah,' he interrupted, gayIy. 'svou think
what most people believe, that the King sad !
are enemies. There ia nothing in thar rpDort
either. King Lewis III. has a head of his Own
and 80 have /. But If we quarrel sometimes, we
stIl remain friends. The king gave me one
hundred thousand dollars for my theatre be
fore
All this conversation had been carried IN IN
the presence of several carpenters. Herr Wag
ner gave them some instructions. and then con-
Quoted me round the theatre a. far a. it was
finished.
Twas especially struck with the colossal d.
mensions OF the stage.
But this will require an immense orchestra, ="
/ exclaimed.
''No fewer than three hundred performer
said Richard Wagner, gravely. Il have written
my operas for vast orchestras. 'Taunhsuser.'
my first opera here. will have a band OF III.
above number of instruments. There will be
evenly five violins, and twenty-five trOmhones
Then Will people, for the first time, learn what
intended with the overture"
"WiN not the expense be very heavy" 1
asked.
'FOr the musicians and singers? No. Ihaye
now more applications for gratuitous coopera-
ton from first class singers and musipiana haf
can use Joachim will lead the victims. Iiszt
will preside at the organ. And, y he added, with
glowing face, ''that organ will be superb one
more powerful and melodious til an the enc al
Tim, although il will not be quite so large
That organ will be present, too" be added
gayly.
''But what will be the destination OF your
grand opera house permanently I enquircd
81 shall present it TO the nation in S." be
replied, grdyey, son condition that every wear
once, for two weeks, deserving operas Of Young
German composers be performed there in lmpO-
S.ng style. Thus my Opera-hOUse will become
national institution in the truest sense OF the
word-an institution that no other civilized
country can boast of; aad the annual perform
a1c in il will be something ike the Olym pic
ames in ancient Greece; grand, superb festi-
vais OF art; tributes to genins which will have
sympathetic echo throughout the world
The maeSiTO'S face glowed with enthusiasm as
he uttered these eloquent words.
"Let us go home,' he said, after a brief
pause; and We walked slowly up Nam Street
again.
a
of them greeted Richard Wagner with Affection
ate reverence. The people OF Baireuth seem to
understand how much lustre the great enter
prise of Wagner will shed upon their humble
city. They have already made him an hOnora-
~ citizen of Baireuth, distinction conferred
on no one except him and Bismarck.
AT Nagner's house | was introduced to his
wife, beautiful and accomplished lady, and a
true helpmats 20 her eminent husband. She is
his secretary and cashier. She showed me the
above mentioned letter from the king of Baya-
ria, and allowed me to copy it. 1t was very
brief, and to the point.
HoHENsCHwANGAU, October I5,IS73.
"MY DEAR WAGNER: Here are three hun
bred thousand dollars more for your opera
house. That sum, trust, will be sufficient.
LEWIS
"Aud when will the opera-house be opened?'
I asked.
"If nve," replied Wagner, solemnly, son
The LIST Of May, 1875. Ii cannot be done before.
On that occasion shall have an audience
such as has never been assembled in a the.
atre before. Already have | invited all we'll
known operate composers, even my bitterest
enemies. Nearly all of them have answered
that they would be present. OF course, the
kings and emperors will be here, too. II will
lie grand festiva for little Baireuth. Three
new hotels will be built by that time"
And thus the great man chatted on.
j left him with the impression that he is the
most genial, energetic, and modest of all the
mineDt composers had ever met with in my
ong musical career.-From the LeiPsic ARSicIl
Gaseite, by j. c. Lote.
About n Hog.