The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-08-29


Berlin in regard to performance of "Loher
grin" which he had seen at the Royal Oper
House, committed the insane blunder Z
hscribing the composition of that well know
work to Weber, instead Of Wagner, mi5tak
tbat It seems no man in his sober, wakln
senses could possibly have made, particular.
after seeing the OPERA and studying out vari
Gus points in connection with the lie ant
history of its author, as the correspondent il
question must have done, for his descrlp
ton is sufficiently accurate to show tina
he must have actually seen the piece
and the points he gives apply perfectly
to Wagner's history, and not at all to that o
Weber, so that one is compelled to think thai
the mistake must have been one of absent
mIndness, or that the fellow was drunk, OF
else laboring under some insane hallucina
zion when he wrote his "sketch. 1t is hard
to believe that regular newspaper CORE
Bpondent, as this party seems to be, could
make such mistake from sheer ignorance
for even if he had never heard of Wagner be.
fore, he could have hardly failed to see that
composers name in connection with the opera
in question ON the play bills on the street
corners, in the newspapers, in the Ii
brettos, anywhere, in fact so that nothing
but blind infatuation or lunacy can account
for mans falling into such an absurd error.
Well, | dare say the public enjoyed the
joke, and seeing the faulty artistic has sug-
gested to me the idea Of writing you few
items about the theaters of Berlin in general,
price of admission, ETC., as | believe people
are generally interested in such matters. The
most prominent among all the numerous
theaters of Berlin are the two great institu-
tions Immediately under the patronage of the
court, and spoken of collectively as the
honigslichen ScltauspieLhauser, one being the
Opera House and the other devoted to legiti-
mate dramatic performances, though in
neither theater is this distinction as regards
performances strictly carried out; operas
being occasionally given in the playhouse,
and plays in the opera house. The Grand Opera
House is situated on the very finest part Of
Inter den Linden, separated from the Empe-
ror's Palace only by a small open platz, and the
playhouse is located little distance further
of, occupying position facing the Gems d'Ar-
mes Markt, small square bounded on one side
by this theater, on another by Catholic
ehurch, and on the third by Protestant
church. 1t is said that the royal founder of
this theater caused the two churches to be
erected, one on either side of the same, in
order that those who remarked the extrava-
gance of building play-houses when Berlin
had SO few churches might be silenced, and
that the public could have free choice of
routes to eternity-the devils highway in the
middle, the splendid and easy road to heaven
after the Catholic belief on the right and the
plain, rough path of Professionalism on the
ieft. But long experience has shown how
the Berlin public flock in eager throngs to
she door of "Satan's temple" while the noble
churches, with their towering domes and
classic architecture, attract but few stray
glers.
There are two ranges of prices to the royal
aheaters, the extra rates obtaining on grand
occasions, as when grand operas and tragedies
are presented, and the middle prices on all
ordinary occasions. The highest price tickets
are for the Fremden Logon (strangers' sea.s),
corresponding with the middle places of our
American dress circle. These cost respect
lively 100 groschen and so groschen go go
$40 groschen representing ST. in gold |
Then the orchestra and parquette seats are |
next highest ranging along from as to 80 |
urnEphap IN u1F,
etc, and from that on to the gallery, called |
Che amphitheater the prices decrease to Is |
and 10 groschen, the cheapest being simply |
place to stand
There are three ranges of seats exclusive of |
the parquette, and the gallery accommoda-
tion (the upper division of the third) seems |
10 be rather more comfortable than in our
American theaters, and appears to be fire.
quented by more respectable looking order
of people. In the center of the first circle is
she court box-a spacious division fitted with |
great velvet arm chairs, and oyershadowed by
a splendid canopy bearing the royal insignia.
This box will accommodate some thirty or
ior,y people, but, as rule, seems to be but
little occupied. There are, also, quite num-
Der of proscenium boxes situated as with us,
and as these are permanently rented by men,
Aers of the aristocrscy, the prices of them do
not figure in the list at all.
One arrangement that is TO be specially
in connection with the royal thea
iers, is that by which students are enabled to
procure tickets at very reduced prices There
Is particular place set apart for students
and though not exactly in the most desirable
part of the house, the seats which it COM
prises afford an excellent view. The plan is
As follows Certain cards known as bons are
issued to students at the reading rooms and
libraries, and provided with one OF these,
costing groschen, the applicant for seat
presents himself at the ticket Office, where in
for the bon and small sum in addi-
aon, ticket is given, emitting the holder to
seat in the students division. 1t is very
surious to watch the crowd of ticket buyers
who throng the doorway of the Opera House
IN the morning of any popular representa-
ion.
They take places in long line outside the
heater, within passage bounded by an iron
ailing, and when the Office is opened the
rowd is allowed to move forward by sections,
wo policemen effecting this by the opening
nd closing of two doors, between which a
here is room for about fifty paonla and &c I