New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-08-28
WAGNER AT BAYREUTH.
Continued from First rage.

~"'N $500 1900
daughters, guardians of the Rhine Gold. Nothing
could be more charming than their frolc trio, en-
bellished as it by such wealth Of instrumental
illustration, such remarkable stage mechanism and
poetical scenery. Here at the very start the
worldwide difference between the orchestra
of Wagner with its freedom and eloquence
of dramatic expression, and. the accom-
paniment" which sustains the voices in the old
school of opera Here indeed it may almost be said
that individual performers in the band became as
truly dramdtis persona as the actors the stage.
Soon the fluent character of this beautiful water
music was disturbed by the introduction of new
theme, and in the increasing light we discerned the
figure of Alberich the uibelung cropping among the
rocks in the bed Of the He pursued the Rhine
daughters with amorous eagerness, and they swan
above him, sinking sometimes almost to ms grasp,
Int always eluding IT, and eering at him with mock
tenderness and merry laughter. The Alberich Oh
Carl Hill, and the Rhine daughters personated by
Iilli and Mario Lehman and Minna Lammert, were
all admirable both in voice and action. To the dis
tant spectator the mechanism by which the motions
of swimming and floating so apty counter
feited was entirely incOnprehensbe, and the lllu-
sion was perfect. i believe the women rested on
saddles supported by iron rods which their long
drapery concealed. The motion was given from
below. In the midst of the sport bright light
began to shine at the summit of the rocks, ana SUD
denly, after n charming orchestral interlude, tho
glow of the gold broke forth from tho point
of a steep cliff, the horns giving out at
the same moment motive OF great
brlliancy and power. The music rapidly became
more and more animated as the Rhine daughters
greeted the appartion with Joyous EXPLANATIONS.
They told Alberch of the wonderful power OF tins
pold which 10 one could obtain without renounclng
forever the joys of love- and in the course OF the
dialogue two other motives, both to become import
AMI in the development Of the drama, were sue
cessively introduced. The nibolung pronounced a
curse upon love- and with violent effort reached the
summit and seized the gold. The Hght was
ouenched We could Just AlbeTich throw him.
self healong from the rock into the deep. while the
Rhine daughters with cry of dismay-a moditica-
ton of their first cheerful melody changed into the
minor key-sank from sight, and darkness settled
over the scene Here, during the rehearsals, the
waters disappeared, almost imperceptiby, as if
swallowed up in thick clouds, but tonight blum
der of the machmistS married the effect. Inc or
ehestra continued the work of dramatic illustration
in a long and beautiful passage changing gradually
to more heroic strains, and the music changed so
the clouds too grew thin, vanished, and left open
before us a beautiful morning landscape
wOTAN AND ALBERICH
The foreground was a dowcry field, supposed to
represent high tabe-land. barrier of rock. over
looking tbs valley of the Rhine, bounded it III the
rear aad in the distant background the gates and
towers of Walhalla doomed indstinctly through the
clouds Wotan. the chief deity of the Morse mythol-
ogy slept ON a grassy bank with his spouse Frieka
bv his side The splendOr of the morning came
forth as the orchestra played the magnificent pas
sage which symbozes the stately castle of the gods,
and recurs in the Of the trlogy as one OF the
principal leading motives. Fricka awoke Wotan
from his dreams to look mt this stronghold which The
giants had built for him while he slept In superb
dialogue she reminded him that the builders would
soon come to claim their promised reward, which
was nothing less than the possession of Freia, the
goddess of youth and hero we heard Of The most
imposing as well rs important of all the leading mo-
lives i'm the work. the ponderous descending scale in
the bass indicating the law which binds the gods by
their pliqhted word The prOud dignity of the "All-
Father" beautifully expressed in the rich bass OF
Franz Bet2 cOntrasted finely with the agitation Of
his spouse and the alarm of Frea, who entered has
tily a few moments later and prayed for help
AGAINST her pursuers. Following close upon her
delicious melody VIC heard in tue orchestra the
measured tramp Of the giants Fafner end tasolt,
and theh urgairly figures were seen climbing up
from the valley and crossing the rocks. The
rest of this brilliant almost battles description,
and certainly to convey by letter any idea Of tho
richness. force and vivdness OF the music is quite
out of the question. The giants insisted upon the
terms of the bargain The cries of FriCka and Frea,
the threats of the brother gods Bonner and From,
the anger of WOtan, could not move them Not
daring to break his word, Wotan asked advice of
Ioge the cod of fire. and this subtle character
vae introduced we heard the strains OF tho fire
music 50 familiar to American audiences in coDnec-
tiou with the finale of the "Walkire." LOge, in
n melody IF the most picturesque beauty wlileh
called out an untimely but irresistible applause
declared that there was nothing the gods could offer
the giants in exchange for Frcia, except the ring
forged by Alberch from the stolen treasure of the
Rhine thus formulating, so to speak, one OF tire
chief ideas Of the tragedy, which is the conflict be-
tween love and the lust of gold aud after magnIf-
cent passage, in which the ring melody" asserted
marked prominence, and each Of the diYlul-
ties in turn asked characteristic questions respect
ing the power of the gold, the giants agreed
to wait until evening for a final answer, taking
Frea meanwhile as security. Dragging after them
the distressed goddess Fafner and Fasot great hulk
ing fellows roughly clad and walking with big
slaves climbed down the rocky descent and left the
gods in melancholy thought. At once a gray mist
settled upon the nights. The light AIDED. Every
thing began to wear appearance OF hoaTy age Tor
the gods had not tasted that day Freias fe-rcnew-
ing apples When they lamented their fading
mower Logo Knocked at them, and at last W0tan
agreed TO accompany the fre-god to the abode of
the d,yaris ard take possession Of the ring. This
was the crime from which tlowedal the misiOrtuneS
of the divine race and the tragedy Of the drama AS
Inge followed by Wotan, disappeared in chasIn OF
the rocks a thick yapOr issued from the opening
and gradually overspread the whole scene The
vapor changed to dense clouds The music OF the