The New York herald., 1875-12-17
The Production Of the ''New Tam
hauser" at Vienna.
CHARACTERISTIC REMARKS BY THE COMPOSER.
The Baireuth Festival to Com
mence on August l3, 1875.
Interesting Accounts from the
Managers.


nrst performance OF Wagner's New rannhauser'' was
OF the most enthusiastic kind The number OF seats
demanded for the first performance far exceeded the
capacity OF the large Opera House. and about six hun
dred seats telcgraphed for, not only from many
cities OF Germany, but even from Paris, London St
Petersburg Moscow and Forence The average price
OF seats the box Office SO So but $40 freely
offered to SPECTATORS and also refused The anti
Wagnerian party which, though not noisy as the
Wagnerian, was however, far more numerous, vented
their disappointment this success sQubs
and puns in the journals 1t would be very good
thing If they would have stopped there; but am
sorry to say they did not Every large city boasts OF
cafe where artists, engaged and disengagod impress
arios, theatrical agents and journalists constantly
meet-a sort oI exchange and kursaal 10 the opera
houses. Milan has her Cafe de la Scala, Paris the
Cafe do Swede and Vienna the Cafe Walsch lead
ing musician and Wagnerian exclaimed there, In the
heat OF discussion concerning the merits Of
his favorite that he would feel ashamed to
have composed such trash as 'sWhelrn Tel. .
followed wagners disciple had his nose
tweaked and his hat pulled his eyes, and the police
had interfere. The sale OF seats to begin
Saturday, the goth, and there actually people
standing the door from two O'Clock IN the morning
The most absurd rumors had been flying about to
the length Of the performance which variously had
been stated 10 last from five hours Some of
The local papers announced tho sale Of "Tannhauser'
baskets for those who would like eat their supper
during the entr' aete& In the meantime Wagner pub
shed letter In tho papers explaining the why
be did not lead the opera himself 1t greatly differs in
style and tone from his previous cards the public
There Wagnerian arrogance be found in It, but
the contrary, II contains good doses OF 'barney"
vouchsafed to "his dear visnnese patrons for their
unexpected and undeserved manifestation of good will
LoQUITUR.
"My place. he says 'is neither in the orchestra nor
among singers II IS between the two such /
pied during the rehearsals 1t would, besides, be an
injustice to my young friend Hans Richter, who with
great DEVOTION has given himself up to the toll OF
hearsing and experimenting the production OF my
operas since the unfortunate withdrawal OF Hans Won
B1low." He took during the rehearsals frequent op-
porunities to impress upon tho orchestra ito be very
discreet in their Accomplishments" He said. ''What-
has been SAID about my considering the orchestra
of more Importance than the singers is absurd The
orchestra ampes the fundamental idea given in the
words, closely welded to the song" II appears after
all that Wagner begins feel that he going little
TOO far He formerly took every sneer at
"a composer" who produced merely Hamlet,
meaning, OF course, Ambrose Thomas, and vlihed
Gounod's Faust" He incidentally remarked to
the orchestra that they must the trouble
music gives them. 1T harder task to play my
operas than to accompany Lucia di Lammermoor and
1t is high time
TRACK,
however good it may have been in its time" he de-
cidedy has become less intolerant than he formerly
was although he rarely let's escape chance or saying
ill-na word about other composers ssThe
complicated Wagner GETS - Gounod said Hans.
lick, tho celebrated Vienna critic, the simpler try
be- "We, he always smpleton," Wagner
A~4lx. al No.. en1A ~
NEW TAyNHAUsER IN VIENNA.
The "Tannhauser" revival took place last Monday
the 22d The court and the high arstocracy pre-
vented from attending in consequence of the death OF
the Duke of Modena, Austrian archduke and a near
relative to the Emperor The directors wen the
leading singers Of the principal German opera houses
present full force. Tho place Of honor was oc
cupied by Tichatschek The Of the Dres
den Opera House, who the first TO sing Tam
hauser" exactly thirty years ago, applauded on
taking his seat in the parquet Wagner himself occu
pied pit box by the side OF his wife. He bowed his
thanks in tho cheers OF the audience after
the drst and second vociferousy called before
the curtain after the third act he made one OF his
usual speeches, in which good deal Of irony was
mixed with aattery.
The performance lasted fully four hours and was con-
sdered be rather tedious Tho first was the same
given in Paris sixteen years ago, and may be set
down as an unmtigated Gasco. As this happened with
public thoroughly sympathetic to Wagner and amid
the enthusiasm generally called forth by the presence
OF the composer may be inferred that the Partisan
failure not the result of cabal organized as il was
thsn said by Meyerbeer, his editors and the adver-
saries OF the Empire, be avenged the Princess
Mctternich the bosom friend Of the Empress Eugenie
who successfully exerted her influence 10 get "Tann-
hauser'' produced Paris preference TO operas by
comnoserg During that net anneare hal1at
'In the Grotto Of Venus" Speidel the chief Of the
antWagnerian party, writes OF the ballet music as
being replete with screaming dssonances and OF ex-
pectoratons OF the most brutal realism II would be
very difficult TO nnd anything revolving in any
other Of his compositions Even the organs OF the
Wagneran party do not appear to be overmuch de-
lighted with the additions Of the second third
acts Altogether the audience felt weary, and Of
relief at the final drop Of the curtain.
THE NEW OPERATE ARRANGEMENT NOT A SUCCESS
II is the general opinion that ''Tapn hauscr in its
new dress win only draw as long as Wagner will be
present but that the old arrangement VIII have to be
resorted to after his departure 'Tannhausern will be
performed dve times, TO be succeeded by the 'mode'
representation Of "Lohengrin," after which Wagner
will leave Vienna u Is however, said that he Will
return IN Nay TO bring out ode Mediterranean
without cuts Nous uerrons.
THE RAIRRuTH FESTIVAL
Wagner has issued circular all those ssartistic
patrons and colleagues" who will take part in the pro
duction Of the "Niebelungen" during the summer OF
lS76 containing tableau Of the projected rehearsas
In this circular Wagner expresses his joyful conviction
that difficulties Of whatever kind possibly pre-
vent the completion at the stipulated time Of his work
'the Of his lfe.n He thanks the artists for the
care and devotion, OF which he had many proofs
and renews the request to continue 'the hdey and
sbuegaton OF those who his patrons above all
othersn Tho entire work will have TO be rehearsed
four times Then partial stage rehearsals
TO be followed with properties and dress rehearssl
and finally, the general rehearsas The stage rehear
sails will take place between the LIST OF June and the
I2th Of July 1916, in the following order -"Rhen-
gold from tho lst to the 10th OF June; "walklro,"
from the 18th to the 21st Of June; 'Siegrcd from
the 22d or June the LIST OF July, and the Gotter