The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1875-06-11
KING LUDWIG OF BAVARIA.
Wagner's Royal WOrsllipper-His
Freaks and Fancies.


Writing from Munich, the correspond
ent of the London Daily News says.
The enthusiasm of King Ludwig for
''Lohengrin" and the composer thereof
has at times been shown IN n strange
and, to me, attractive manner The opera
with the wondrous legendary lore and
the beautiful poetry it eLnbodies, had an
intense enchantment for the young
King, with his nature full of poetry and
romance. Wagner himself writes in his
autobiography: "In the year of the
first performance of my "Tannhauser, "a
queen bore me the genius of my life,
who raised me from the direst necessity
to the highest joy. When but fifteen
years of age he witnessed performance
of my "Lohengrin," and since then he
has belonged to me. He calls me his
teacher. the dearest for him on earth.
/ He was sent to me from heaven.
Through him | am, aud understand my
self"
CuAiShh AA
Munich about the Kings romantic di-
versions. The legend of the Swan
knight has found many homes, and
perhaps its most beautiful one is. there
on the lakes amid the mountains that
guard the young monarch's castle of
Hohenschwangau. What was more ma
tural than that the King should endea-
vor to re-enact the peculiar scenes re-
corded in the old story? Down below
the balcony, where he stood, band
played the music of"Lohengrin." while
across the deep blue lake came on "The
Knight of the Grail prince Taxis)
drawn in the boat by mechanical swan
of cunning gestures and workmanship.
The boat reached the banks, the Knight
stepped on shore. and then be sang his
beautiful farewell" to his feathered
companion which had brought him over
the waves. Whether he found an ELSA"
to defend at Hohenschwangau the his
tory doth not say only we know that the
King was delighted.
The dwellers on Lake Starnberg will
also tell you that at times, years ago,
they have seen boat out on the waters,
and have heard the "Swan Song" or the
charming "Athmest du Nicht," sung by
some mysterious singer to some equally
mysterious listener on shore. And the
good people of Munich will tell you
marvellous stories about the royal
winter garden at the top of the royal
| palace, and of the small lakes whose
shores are lined with reeds and trees
that hang lovingly over the water, on
whose surface swans float dreamily about
hither and thither-shoreward some
times, at the beck of their royal master
who has chosen them as his emblemaIic
| bird. Sometimes a singer il invited
may be Franz Nachbauer, who, seated
in small boat to which a swan is at
tached, sings to his royal master the
sweet tones of Beloved Swan" from the
opera which you are about to hear in
| London.
! A few years ago it was the custom of
tae King to have the Wagnerian operas
| frequently given in the theater with
himself as the sole spectator. A very
selfish procedure, you will say, but then
he could afford it. A story is told about
two English ladies who once had the
honor of being invited to one of these
remarkable rehearsals. They had waited
several weeks for an opportunity to hear
"Lohengrin." which had always been
placed on the repertoire for Sunday
evening, when, being religious people,
they could not conscientiOusly attend
So they wrote TO the Kings Chamber
lain, telling him their troubles, asking
if his Majesty would not permit them to
attend Que his private performances of
"Lohengrin." The following day came
the reply that his Majesty granted their
request, and on the same evening the
ladies were surprised at seeing one of
the royal carriages stop before their
hoEse; footman was announced, and
informed them that he had orders
TO conduct them to the opera, not only
then, but as often as they wished, during
their stay in Munich. They were shown
to seats Immediately below, but out of
sight of the royal box, and were after
wards frequent visitors. Well, in these
fancies the King annoyed nobody, and
he rewarded the singers in a very hand
| some manner. The tenor, Nachbauer;
the finest delineator of "Lohengrin" on
the German stage, received from him a
silver shield, with an emblematic device
of the swan carved upon it, and beaut-
iful silver helmet, likewise crowned
with. the legendary bird. Fraulein
Stehle received many gifts appreciative
of her delineation of Elisa"