, 1876-09-17

But the time for observation was short, for the
Emperor had no sooner reached his seat than
the auditorium was darkened, and those who
had bought textbooks or scores we're obliged
for want Of light to put them under their seats.
Wagner demands the eyes, as well rs the ears,
Of his audience for 3 proper Interpretation Of
his works.
~.
From the space between the audience and the
stage where the one hundred and twenty mem
bers of the orchestra are hidden from view, the
sound Of a solitary note is heard, SO deep and
so long sustained that Wagner
had to have i special instrument for
the purpose OF producing it. He wanted
a sou9ld which should have the quality
belonging to wind instruments without the in
terruption which the need Of taking breath ne
cessitates in course Of time in the very best
tion Of the ''contra-bass tuba,'' which holds a
solitary E fiat, while one after another, from
the highest to thc lowest, the instruments
Of the orchestra join in producing the grand
rhythmic, wave.llke motion which is as-
sociated throughout all tho dramas with
the Fates and Eternity, aud in the midst of
which the curtain, divided in the centre is push
cd aside, as it we're, aud we lind ourselves facing
the waters of the Rhine, on 4 level with its bed
at first all is blank. We see nothing but wall
u WAtET, llLD lllC QCpLuS u WHICH, LuG 1lllL u
the morning sun has not yet penetrated Soon
a ioru, with dreamy indist;nctuess, is seen
gliding through the water. In moment it is
gone, but its white arms have marked it for u
woman, even before its lovely voice is heard
siuging to the waves uouratul greeting. 1t
grows gradually lighter, and We see the other
lor1ns gliding among tue rocks, which arc now
clearly visible, forming the side Of the rivers
bed. Suddenly we hear 4 deep voice from the
foreground, where At6crich, Prince of the Nibe-
lungs, the dwarfs who delye in the bowels
Of the earth, has lain unnoticed. H has been
watching the play of the beautiful Rhine
daughters, aud now calls to them. In alarnl
at the sight Of the ugly dwarf, they cease their
play He begs them to beg again aud let him
join them: They pretend to agree, anu in turn
approach him on1y to dart OUT Of his reach at
the very moment when he thinks he has t!eu,
in his arms. Mockinsly they tell him they
have nothing to fear, for he is in love. just
then the rays OF the rising sun penetrate the
river and strike the treasure, the Rlinc-5old,
which, lying tn the top1uost point OF rock pro-
iccting from the bottom, lights up the river
with its reflection. In i song Of i1luescfibable
beauty, the Rhine daughters sing tue praise Of
the precious Khine-goid. -4ldet,ch asks what
this is that shines SO brightly. With contempt
for his ignorance, they tell Of the wonlrous na-
ture Of tie gold Of which they are the guardians.
who CAL fashion it into ring; but only lie can
accomplish this who has cursed love, and SO,
they add, there is nothing to fear frc:a the lows
sick 1I<Tich. Hearing this, the dwarf climbs
rapidly to the top Of the roIA On which the treas
urc lies, and. cursng lore, he seizes the gold
3na asappSa1s IN Ine uepths, ~nhe az becomes
is changed to lamentations.
The scene changes. No curtain falls, but the
darkness which has been before our eyes since
-4la>rfch disappeared now sinks out OF sight and
leaves US II tue presence u nuss castic Na!cn
rises IN tne GaeAgroanq nne loregTouho @ ,e, Is
mount2ah,aeieAI covered Win SHRUBS anu HOW
CTS, On "Aicn Ho'aa anu rIse1a, cue ouPitcr
and jump ot Scandinavian mythology, are seen
asleep; oesweentne lnoahtals-top alla tlle castle
uoMs thc rhine. Hcfda nag mace compact
with the giants, EaJne' and FdsoH, Dy which
they agreed to bulit nm c2stie, PROVIDED they
should reSelTc IN return FTsesds SISTER, The
beautiful Ereta- lhe castle Is hnished. anu IN
aar1n 1efESa upDEalos ner luseanu 1or ehtrfih55
upon CONTRACT the execution o. when ils own
INTERESTS would necessarily WIS wish delayed: for
through fFeta the immortality OF the gods Is
preserved. She alone can pluck the apples OF
;outh by eating which the progress OF age Is
preYeuted IN the midst o. Their altercation,
fte;a appears running in Hight from tile giants
whuhavc come to claim her a moment later
mald the maiden 'iofGA refuses. ln aston
lsment, the giants remlnu hln That the power
he has lies III his position as the defender OF the
sacrcdness OF oatlls and compacts. he is
lnmseu guutl u tueu Hlo1aLaon' h1s
supremacy Is LOST Eofda still refuses, but
Is full o1 anxiety 1or the coming OF tile
Ct atty Loge, who had ADVISED him to
make the agreement With the giant, and
on whom he now relies for the means
to ontw1t them: But the giants are III haste for
their reward lhey seize Ffad, VINO calls loud
y for her brothers to aid her-ior f'oh and
Don'er (ihorl the god OF lleht and the god OF
thunder and lightning, who threaten to strlSe
the giants dead. But !1otdn !ntcFfercs with bis
speer, which is the emblem Of good faith. At
tills moment Loge arrives. nc mas been search
ing tlc world Tor something to o1ter the
giants IN place OF Freld, nut everywhere hnds
woman's love held at the highest value. Ono
man alone nc 1nds Who values something else
more highiy-the Nibelung, Atberich, who holds
the stolen Rhine-gold as the the greatest treas
urc The giants inquire into the worth OF this
gold. 1t Will give tue mastery of the world to
him who shapes 1t into ring but ne alone
Tan do this who curses love, and this dAe77ch
has done A simultaneous impulse, on hearing
this, comes over both Hofdn and the giants:
the former fears Tor the safety OF the gods II
the ring is left in the dFarts hands; the latter
think that they would be willing to part even
with freta it this wonderful gold could be
theirs. Hota" scols at tue luea OF getting it
for the desplsed giants. SO they seize FRED
and carry her oil, saying that they will come
again at evening to see II the answer Is
ready; II not, freia is theirs. AS soon
rs the giants have gone with their
pr1Ze, sunshine gives place. to mist, the gods