New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-05-19

beethoven at But he at deprived me OF all pos
sonaoy III ha si \" had my and declaring
that he would not leave me ill we haa seen ro
h soSs 81 Tt ya .G I into rage in vain Finally
hoped escape him by heetDess of foot dew up inc
R before a" the door was opened the man stood beside
seized the skt of my coat and said POM run
away from me have right to your coatskirts anu
III hold fast by them until we s'ahd In nec'"o'en
turned upon him in fury. and struggled to free my,
SELF even felt tempted to defend myself by physical
the door was opened An old servant appeared frown-
ing she discovered us in our extraordinary position;
anxiety called my name aloud and affirmed that had
been invited by Herr Beethoven himself
The old still in doubt, for the sight OF tno
Englishman seemed to rouse In her very lusI p sur
piconwhen suddenly as luck would have tnd IT, Ta
ing advantage Of this moment, rushed quickly id,
and sought to approach the master to e1o e for bc
chung TO me still He carried out his purpose, ana da
a nSd st gG out my and though certainly
did not understand it, he seemed to know tha war re
one who had written him. He motioned me 70 60 n,0
his rcom and without being in the least disturbed ny
Beethoven's amazed look, my companion shlpeu naS''
Here was-in the sanctuary; but the horrible embar,
into which the villanous Brisher haa ieu me
robbed me all that bcnecent mood that was necessary
to worthily enjoy my good fortune Beeth4vcns apea
was certainly not in se aaa'fa someWha dis
orderly dshabe; he red WOODEN belt around ms
head and Ills gloomy repcllent expression did not tend
to aay my confusion. We sat down at table covciea
There was decided feeling of awkwardncss no one
spoke Beethoven was evidently out OIL temper at "e
AT last he began by say Ing III a harsh VOICE 10"
was about TO answer brt he interrupted me; having
pencil and sheet of paper before nc, he added: Write
knew Of Becthovens deafness. and had prepared
self it, Nevertheless il went through my heart IKE
panS When e"rT ms ve " in e a wo and in
poverty; TO find ones only exalted happiness m the
power OF musc-and to have to say" cannot hear! In
one moment TO the full understanding OF
Beethovens manner Of the deep sorrow in ms face OF
ness Of his lips he could not hear!
Confused and without knowing what said. wrote an
entreay for his pardon and brief explanation OF the
circumstances that had forced Inc to appear IN the com
pany of the Engshman. The latter sat silent ana con-
tented opposite Beethoven, who when ne had rtn my
words, turned TO him rather sharply with inc hquh!
~ have TIE honor'-rcplied the Brton.
81 can't understand you. cried Beethoven Nasty ma
ih tIr %ps DOWN whsyo S' want r with me-
The Englshman quietly reflected for moment then
me 'GoodeWrte-I request Herr Beethoven to look at
this composition Of mine; II he finds passage mat does
not please him. he will have the kindness to marx cross
wrote down his request literally, in the hope nat we
suit After Beethoven had read it, he laid the English
mans composition on the table with peculiar siniie
With this my "gcntielnan'' was content lie rose
made especially magnificent bow, and took his ave
/ | drew a long breath he was gone
Now for the first time felt myself in the very
sanctuary. Even BeethOven's features grew obviously
]
| THE Engshman has caused you no little troubef"
said he ''Find consolation with me; these travelling
Englishmen have tortured me To death They come 10
day poor musician as they would 50 Tomorrow
TO look al some rare animal am heartily sorry 70 have
confounded you with him. You wrote me that you were
pleased with my compositions am glad OF that Tor
have little confidence now III pleasing people with my
productions"
At Wagners next visit to Paris his life was greatly
changed He famous, and the Emperor
gave orders for the production of "Tannhiuser" at
the Grand Opera, with the most sumptuous scenery
and decorations. The first trouble in the prepare
ton of this work was about the ballet. il was abso
lutely necessary according to the Director, that
there should be ballet in the second act.
declared that could not possibly interrupt the pro
gress of the second act by ballet, which must appear
from every point of view if introduced in this
at the luxurious of Venus perfect opportu
nifty for ehoregraphic scene OF some real inc'aig
myself thought could not get on without the dance
was even delighted with the task Of thus remcdying
weakness my earlier score, and drew up elaborate
scheme. according to which the scene on the hill OF
Venus should be raised 10 position OF great Importance
| But the director refused tins plan decidedly, and
frankly Informed that it not The inir0duction
opers p" but more e5pcia that this ballet Should be
danced in the middle of the evening" for it only then
clusivey belonged entered their boxes since they ord
nary dned very Late ballet perorned at the begn
they never present at the first act These and SINH
s S c by the
result was Shown to be entirely dependent upon
fuhllment OF the conditions therein contained, that
began to believe must give up the whole undertaking.
Wagner had his own way however, at last, and
perhaps he contributed not little thereby to the
extraordinary scenes at the production of the opera
of which he gives the following account III letter
to a friend:
On this evening there was assembled in the Grand
prad If ncx 70 ,mi,nssibc for me even To- give
the day of the first performance and to have
say, by their efforts audience which any cool obscr
would at have seen TO be intensely prcjuiced
against my work Add 10 this the representatives OF the
Paris press, who officially invited on such occasions
from their reports-and Won cin wei believe that be-
lieve myself justified in speaking OF great triumph.
when tel YOU truly. that The by means enchantsg
performance ny opera greeted with stronger and
more unanimous applause than had ever personally ex-
perenced IN Germany The real leaders OF the opposition
had p 10 this time done their best 10 distract the aten
beam toward the conclusion Of the second act 10 fear
that they would be forced - witness complete and bril-
liant for my Iannniuscr, and began to break
ont with rude bursts OF laughter at certain catchwolds,
which they had agreed uptn AT the rclearsas, by which
means they brought abon at the end OF the aGt sur
fciently dtacting disturbance TO sensby weaken the
! These gentlemen had ucsliOnaby observed, at the
grand rehearsals from which had never succeeded IN
ia the performance OF the third act captaiy painted
by NJ. Despltchin, representing the valley before
had, even during the rehearsal produced an effect upon
the spectators by which the frame OF mind necessary for
brought about i'll spite OF Themselves from the stand
point of the performers, these the most bril-
liant point OF the whole performance; the Pilgrims
Chorus admirably sung and scenically pIcscnted
Eizabeth's prayer, given entire and with striking
preston by Mile Sax the 0ndsid to the evening star,
produced with perfect and pathetic decacy by Morei
-these successfully introduced the best portion of
Nemanns perfOrmance,-ht account of the pilgrimage.
which always secured the heaties recognition of that
artists powers-hat very exceptional success seemed
secured for this third act at least with the most
hostile opponent OF my work
But precisely this attacked by the leaders
above referred TO- and they sought 10 hinder the produc
ton the necessary absorbed spirit among the audience
by loud of laughter which must have found their
childish the most trihng opportunities
these hostile demonstrations, singers