New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-08-12
THE WAGNER FESTIVAL.
BAYREUTH AND IT'S THEATER.
EXTERIOR AND INTERIOR OF THE THrATER-7

TowN-wAGNER's LABoRs AND TRIUMPH.
The City of Bayrcuth, to which musical pilgrims
have been flocklng during the past month, is situate
amid the mountains in the northeast of Bavaria.
In point of locality it might be called the musical
hub for il lies almost exactly in the center of q
circle of which Leipsic Dresden, Prague, Munich,
Stuttgart, and Frankfort form the periphery.
Berlin and Vienna are only few hours outside of
the circle by an express train. Taken in connection
with its suburbs, it is of the prettiest little
cities that can be found in Bavaria. TO the Mar
grave Christian of Brandenburg who transferred
his seat to the town in the first half of the seven
tenth century, the city is indebted for the inaugu
ration of many permanent improvements. George
William, and also Frederick, who was finally sue
cessfu in his suit for the sister of Frederick the Great
were both attached to their capital, and dld all
they could to beautify it. Since 1863, when the
Bayrcuth family became extinct, the principalit y
has changed hands frequently. The Ansbach family
came first into possession. Margrave Alexander
sold ont to Prussia in 1871: then the French sway
from 1906 to 1910 followed, and finally Bavaria, its
next door neighbor, opened a hungry mouth and
swallowed the principality whole. The public
buildings are few in number The old palace which
was erected in 1854 is now Government office
building. The new palace erected in 1888 is now
fitted up for King Ludwig. At the extremity of the
for the regiment of cavalry stationed i'll the city. In
the Castle square, Schwantnaer, who has done so
much for Bavaria, and especially for Munich, has
statue of Jean Paul Other statues, especially of
MargTavc Christian Ernst. and here and there foun-
tains adorn the city.
GENERAL ASPECT OF THE THEATER.
The theatcr is situated in the outskirts of the town
about two minutes walk from the railroad depot, on
a high swell of ground which commands pleasant
view of Bayreuth and its suburbs. In its outward
aspect the building is entirely removed from con-
ventiona models Its external architectural struc-
ture though on the whole light and pleasing and
not devoid of TASTE has been subordinate to the in
ternal aim and purpose for which it erected.
With only hundred thousand thalers at command
Wagner could not make the building artistically
perfect But he has succeeded in doing all he eX-
pected With a few minor alterations here and
there in the way of improvements his plan has been
carried out as proposed in the ninth volume of his
works The building is seen to least advantage from
side view the stage part of the structure rising so
high above the auditorium as to cast the latter,
which is the most pleasing part of the whole, into
the shade. Seen from front or rear the eject much
better, and the anomaly of the side view hy which
the theater appears not as one building but as two
and half buildings stuck together is altogether
gone.
Going inside, the visitor is again struck with the
apparent smallness of the auditorium compared with
the stage especially the absence of side galleries
and boxes. 1t is evident too that no money-maklng
theater could be well constructed on this principle,
because none of them could ignore the profits which
come from the three or four tiers OF galleries.
Usually theaters are built for the sake of the ticket
office. Wagner has been happy in being able TO dis
pense with this altogether, and so has Duiit one
which answers perfectly To the requirements OF ms
~ n hpn n
great hight, breadth. and depth to the stage, ana
to conceal every portion OF the machinery from the
spectator. Nothing can he more dlotracuhg OF
ridiculous to the bchOldcr III q pOSccnlum DoX OF
side gallery seat than to see the Workmen mahlpu-
lating the scenes during the performance OF ro-
mantle opera In M2gnerS thGgter s rco T fe
royal gallery which Is III the back part OF me
house, is nothing but parquet and the
spectatOr must face the stage. ! Even the
orchestra is entirely concealed from view to
add TO the dramatic effect, being dropped dowL INTO
PIT between the stage and the auditorium, and
further concealed by bulNark on the edge OF the
auditorium The princlpIl dimensions are fol-
lows: Width OF stage from wall TO wall 100 feet;
hight from stage floor TO top, 103 feet; depth from
tage floor to bottom Of pit 50 fcct the depth OF the
principal stagc-that - TIE distance III retreats from
the audiorium-is SO feet then behind this there Is
a smaller rear stage, which. though much narrower
than the first increases It's depth % leel so llal INC
stage as seen from the auditorium, can have total
depth of 1873 feet This Is greater depth than any
stage III Germany, and gives an opportunity lor
magazine rooms 50 feet by %. Then there are
three stories of dreSsing-iOoms = on each Sdc, iQr
Opera House, which is the largest in Germany, ex-
cepting Vienna, it has Just the same breadth upon
and in front of the stage; but the PIT below IS
deeper and the rear aferStage Is much larger IN
Bayreuth. The machinery is the best which could
be found. The foundation of the building Is sand
stone. the upper part OF red and a light colorcd
brick DISPOSED in a very pleasing manner. Gas for
the building is made in a rctort on the premises.
There is no chandelier in the auditorium, the light
being shed from knots of burners here and there As
the theater will only be used III summer tlhle, no
provision for heating II Is necessary.
HERR WAGNER's PLANS AND DIFFICULTIES.
Speaking of his last great work, The Ring of the
Niblung," Richard Wagner referred to If, in a con-
vcrsatiOn last year, with unconcealed zeal and IN
terest He was particular in emphasizing the fact
that the plan had no speculative or moncy-making
character whatever 1t is effort, he said, purely
in the interest of musical art. From his own I'M
aided means he was not able to carry out the plan
he had therefore appealed to his friends and
had met with responses from all parts OF
Europe and indeed from America; tie had
calculated the expense at 100000 thalcrs which
his friends proposed to divide among 1000 patrons
at 800 thaors each piece of ground had been
generously given Inn o by 1he Guy as size IGr f9e
spend 100. 900 upon the theatcr building, 100000
for decorations aud machinery and the other
100000 for his singers Inc expenses OF me build
the estimate and "were Il not for the generosity OF
INV singers said lie, 1.-THE greater part of whom,
from pure enthusiasm for The undert2 king, have
consented to sing for almost nothing should not be
able to carry the thing through. l have
already given $4,000 forms, the proceeds
of my concerts, but still need more ore
to carry ont my idea.' Dwelling again upon the
purely artistic character of the enterprise, ne SAID
there was to be no charge for admission and there
fore there would be no pecuniary gain from this
opera representation. Provision had been made II
the auditorium for 900 patrons, each patron being
ontitled TO one seat the 200 800 seats that re-
manned would udiciously disposed amongs students
lovers of music and others, left to the disposal of