Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1875-11-21


opholes" had been made to say, in Faust,
when the people were calling for money,
q cry not unfamiliar at this day, "I'll
get my pTinting-press and give them
plenty Of paper money" Laughter and
cheers The residue OF the lecture
went to convey the idea that there was
no personal devil, and that all good men
who labored faithfully to serve their
kind would meet their reward, no mat
ter how many demons stood between
them and eternity. Long-continued
applause.
Wagner's Theater at Bayreuth.
Translated for the Evening Post from sim
Deutschen Reiche," of beipztg.l
It is by no meaus a disadvantage to
an enterprise to be little talked OF dur
ing its earlier stages. The theater which
Wagner has been building at this place
has enjoyed this advantage. Now, how
ever, that ii has been opened for re-
hearsals we are encouraged to give some
idea Of the outward expression OF the
edifice designed for the greatest musical
festival OF modern times. Mr.. Wagner
selected BsyTeuth for this festival, not
merely because of the pleasant situation
of this little Protestant city in the north
of Bavaria, so accessible from all other
parts of Germany, but also because it
possessed q large and well appointed
theater ever since the days of the splen-
dor-loving Markgraf George. After
Wagner had built "Wahnfried," his
new home, close to the park, he saw the
difficulty of transforming the theater,
and preferred erecting an entirely new
structure upon his own plan. This 10
now entirely finished on the outside and
stands upon an elevation not far from
the railway station, in the direction Of
the monument of Victory. The shape
of the red brick building and its position,
where it commands 8 fine view, are
suggestive of summer theaters, such as
managers delight to name "Tlvolp' or
"Elysium.n AS the performances in
contemplation are not, however, to be
of a corresponding character, perhaps
the situation in one respect is not alto
gether appropriately chosen; for either
the thousands Of guests who are expect
ed will have weary ascent to it, or
system Of hackney coach service, which
does not at present exist at Bayreuth,
must be created. The rows of slender
trees which line the way, too, will yield
but slight protection to the pedestrian
from the rays of the afternoon sun. But
the master had q reason of his own for
choosing this place. He needed good
foundation and ample space beneath his
stage; and no other place in the valley
answered this purpose 80 well, on &C.
count of the subterraneous waters. The
exterior of the theater is very simple;
the part of the building designed for
the audience is turned toward the city;
on the corners are four small pavilions;
IN the center rises the powerful Schnur-
6Oden, somewhat like the Leipzig
theater. When you approach the in
terror from the stage you are astonished
at its vast proportions. In the dimen-
sions of hight, depth and width, it ex-
ceeds any other German theater. The
pulleys for drawing the scenes are twice
the hight Of the stage, and as the depth
of thirty-six feet below the stage is suf-
ficient to receive the scenes, they vanish
below instead of being rolled up. There
is row Of these arrangements for draw
ing up and down on differ ent parts of the
stage. Rooms for stage DECORATION are
provided on either side as in the nave of
church, and they are admirably adapt
ed to this purpose. Almost every spot
upon the vast podium is arranged to be
ChhA hCh hCSOoooAyI anu AuAhOCllCcb
little openings are provided to allow arti-
cles of dress to vanish below. The space
underground is divided into two stories,
of which the upper, in some places, may
be raised to the level of the stage. The
great peculiarly of the theater centers,
however, in the orchestra and the ar
for accommodating specta-
tors. The latter consists of forty
rows of seats divided into
sections, each OF which furnishes about
fifty sittiDgs. There is no proscenium
except the row of boxes for royalty. A
wall in the shape Of shell, overlapping |
the stage SIS it were, completely hides |
the orchestra from the public. The |
wall easends some distance under the |
stage where the wind instruments are |
disposed. Iu this way the musicians at |
tention is never distracted by the per- |
formance. Even the violinists, whose |
places are next to the director, can scarce |
ly see the stage. The complaint is of. |
ten made by singers that they are obliged |
to sing louder than the orchestra to he |
heard. If this innovation proves sue
cessful, Wagner will deserve to be re-
garded as a reformer in theatrical archi-
lecture, as well as in music. We may
possibly also owe to him reform in the |
system Of lighting theRters. His first |
step in that direction has teen to remove
the foOtlights from the stage, thus avoid
ing the unfavorable shadows which they
throw upon the faces of actors who In
step too near them. The
principal light will be supplied from
above. However, all this is as yet only
n the experimental stage. Toe ques-
ion OF possible accidents from fire
arises. This subject has not been overlook
ID. Beneath the theater is well which
IN the one hand collects all the subterra-
1eOus water, thus iEsuriDg dry foun-
IatiOn, and at the same time forms q
from which water may be
'aised by an engine, provided for the
purpose, to the very top of the edifice.
From there it is conducted by pipes in
Ill directions. The steam also will be
lsed for scenic effects. Several iron
mouths open under the stage, thr, gh
which the steam or vapor may ascend
20 the podium. This whole enterprise,
rom the construction of the vast editice
o the gathering into it OF all the highest
slent Of Germany represents something
grand in design and energetic
n performance; and If some smile at
he uncertainties and probabilities
u the scheme, they must lay their
)lame upon the fanatical friends of Nj.
Wagner, who have so literally provided
means for it. Now that the work is go
ar advanced (for at the present time
hey are already having rehesrsals in it
With a full orchestral) 1T is not premature
o speculate upon the effect of its attrac-
ions. -Four years ago thousands fiocked
o view the performances OF the "PassiOn
Play" at Oberammergau. It is not too
much to expect at least an equal mum.
'er 10 visit Bayreuth. If anything is
calculated to insure the sympathy of
he German people in the highest degree
or this festival, it will be the reflection
hat the whole creation 1.-THE Nibelungen)
'eing its foundation, and the way it is
o be carried out bears a purely German
haracter. OF course the decision of the
ublic will depend upon the "Tone
lectures" Of the master; but the
promises something very
iterent from what was to be cleared from
be style of the "Meistersanger."
GunInS, -,