The New York herald., 1875-08-28
WAGNER'S DREAM.
NEAR REALIZATION OF LONG CHERISHED AM
BIrIoN--THE OPERA OF THE FUTURE

NEAR REALIZATION OF A LONG CHERISHED AM
BITIoN--rHE OPERA OF THE FUTURE.
From the London Tmos August a. 1851
The long dream of Richard Wagner's life seems
the point of being realized. When, some thirty
years ago, he produced "Renzi' at Dresden, where,
through the influence 1t Is said, chiefly OF Mcyerbeer,
he had been appointed kapcllmeister, he simply gave
birth to snowy and pompous reflection Of the style OF
that early friend and model This was before the
Communication 10 HIS Friends" which forms an in
PRODUCTION to the published poems of ''Der Fegende
Holdnder," "Tannhduser' and ''Lohengrin;" before,
according to his confession, Wagner became "a
poet" before he had laid down the theory which
attributed the want of emotional impulse in
'the present" to prevalent zeal for tho
'monumental;" and his famous treatise
'Das Kunswerk der Zukunn" explained n
his friends that the true artist could only unfold him
self in purely dramatic sense in conformity to the
possible life of the future. He thereupon had re-
the niythos his medium Of expression and
the result appeared successively in the three above
named works. Not absolutely satisfied however, with
these least in regard to their alliance with music
Wagner fully to exemphfy his doctrine by
the aid of still remoer myths, and the outline of thb
new endeavor appeared in Christian und ISOLDE" (oi
'Iseult" the ''belle Isonde' of ''MCrt
d'Arthur0 ''Rheingold" and the triogy OF the
s'Nibcungen" " These the last offspring of WagneF's
genius, were imagined and developed in
toned and colossal a form that the difficulty
of getting them represented in accordance with
his preconceived notions seemed at first in
surmounabe. Wagner well aware OF the
facts, though not by any dismayed. How
necessarily and with what astonishing energy, he has
written and labored for the accomplishment OF object
upon the attainment Of which he believed and be
leves conscienously doubt depends the resuscita
tion of German in the shape through which alone,
he protests ought to be exhibited, need hardly say
His literary works backed up by those OF his many
enthusiastic disciples have for long period absorbed
the attention OF the reading musical public Not to pay
heed to them was barely possible their vigorous clo
quencc and acutcness of investigation being great
measure irresistible. more uncompromising or self
satisfied preacher than Wagner could scarcely be
cited from the records Of art controversy. or
u stancher resolute set OF followers
than those who advocate his cause. Whatever
arguments may be brought forward in antagonisn To
his liked dea 1t cannot be denied that he has sue
ceedcd in fascinating and winning to hls cause
large number of earnest thinkers who preach Wagner
ism arreligon and stand by him resolutely foi
veal for These prOseyte5, 1t should be under
Stood thoroughly acquainted with his revolutionary
projects and his habtualy emphatic manner OF sup
porting them, insist upon Wagner, the whole Wagner
and nothing but Wagner
As has already been suggested, the realization o
Wagner's poetic and artistic dream seems near at
handtha is in so far series OF model performances
aided by advan tages very likely to be of frequent
occurrence, may help towards it, Tristan und Isolde"
which, by the way was composed between
the second and third parts of the ''Nibelungen"--
an episode US 1t were-had already beon
tried and found practcable and this Notwithstanding
the formidable difficulties which, except under unusu
ally favorable circumstances, must always initiate
against perfect representation of the drama and per-
feet execution of the music But now comes the."kina
of the Nibeungen" IA dramatic festival play fBuh'
feStspie for three days and preliminary even
ing.n This extraordinary production, as the same
Hanick, with slight touch OF exaggeraton says
'holds the position relatively to 'Lohengrin' AZ
the Falls of Niagara TO glass of water" perform
ance of the ''Rng des Nibelungen" on the grandes
scale is to of in the summer Of 1876 at the
theatre, which the composer with assiduous persever
ance has contrived TO get erected at Bey-
reuth, where with view, it may be surmsed,
to the eventiul OCCASION lie has for some time
taken up his abode and built himself a house The
preparatory yrehcarsaspreparatoryb because Is under
stood that the months of June and July next year will
be exclusively devoted to rehearsas Of the work in iti
ntegrty-have been going at Bareuth, under Wag
ncr's immediate supervision, since the middle OF last
month. The "Rng des Nibelungcn" consists of so
called "trilogy" ushered in descending from great
things to small) by prologue" like Donzetts "Lu
crcZla Borgia" Unlike "Lucreza Borgla,' however,
the Rng' exacts four days in performance, being
divided into four plays, or Dramas the one growing
sequently out of the other. The ancient Gcrmanic
legend derived from the Iceandic "Sagas" and known
TO those versed in literary lore the Nibcungenleid
was theme only possible to u bold and original
thinker to man OF inventive genius ana 70
a true born poet Even the fercest opponents Of
his musical theories who stand up for music ipr
dependent act and protest against the dogmac assef
ton in "Oper und Drama that Emusic Is woman"
('Die Musk ist ein Weib'o and, therefore, dependent
upon man ('the poetD, will hardly question the fact
that Richard Wagner Is all these. Many OF his SIN
music to complete them--that, in fact, they com
plee in themselves; and for this dctum If not ample
Justification, at least fair show OF reason may be ad
duced- 1t might also be suggested that the Webb
when by epousng the poet she ulhs the object o hei
existence, becomes somewhat garrulous, often noisy
occasionally vertabe Xantippe-if the quantity ano
quality of the music with which Wagner illustrates
his dramas be taken into consideration Thus
much admitted, however, the Nibelungenring, after
the in which he has handled the subject is
alton standing apart from ordinary art Here the
destnies of the operate drama should and must
be guided are adhered To with uncompromsng severity.
To select excerpts with the object OF making stock in
trade of this that especial passage. Is out of the
power Of the most experienced manufacturer Of "varia
tons, &C. for the planoiorte any other instrument
We must take the whole leave it untouched The
four parts OF which the drama is composed alike
safe from depredatons Of the kind Rhengoid he pre-
amble the Waakare Seqfried and G5tterddnerunq are
one and all OF "a piece or this any amateur or
musician may convince himself by perusal Of the vocal
scores with pianoiortc accompaniment. which are
now published and accessible. True, Wagner carries
out 10 the bitter end hs avowed disdan for the ira
dtiona laws OF "one families which govern the rela
tons of keys to each other; and this, which To many
would appear equivalent TO doing away with the rea-
tons OF cOors tO each other in sister art, alone suf
ccs TO arouse the jealousy OF large majority, who
have been used to look from qute another poInto
view II also encourages wide spreading belef that
he Is far greater dramatic poet than he Is musician,
On the other hand the nature OF his themes ana his
peculiar way OF developing them, are such that wagner
may put forward more or less reasonable plea
his own behalf According to u Jealous dis
cple he has selected Tor his modern art
work, these legends wrapped in clouds OF darkness,
inasmuch as they represent 'sthe pure symbol oi
primeval forces while the COMPOUNDS OF sue.
cessve generations This, nevertheless, IN one who
avowcdiy aims at portrayng, through dramatic
agency probable life of the iuure, appears
what inexpcable. Admitting that the present."
apart from the monumental" is chiefly Fashion, F."
sham and barrenness; that everything achieved up t0
this time is less faulty, the greater portion
worse than faulty how Wagner who holds that
with the advance Of time and change Of cpochs we
have become worse and worse, reckon upon his
cherished culture" for better things--and these
materially through the scenic apparillon accompanied
by unearthly music, OF the gods demgods goddesses
gnomes and heroes OF mystic past Is he propheti
One would be inclined 10 think so.