The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-08-13

in the history Of modern theatre construction Thar the
boxes have been swept away entirely trust that
whenever any of our theatrical managers think OF
building new theatre they Will give The plans Of
the Wagner Theatre at Baireuth most careful study
consider il OF the complete and comfortable
theatres IN the world
THE ISvIs BILE ORCHESTRA.
The rendering invisible OF the orchestra is Wagner's
most radical innovation reform IN his theatrical
structure DESTROYS OF presenting his sage pictures TO
the audience without any interruption to the gaze there
by removing the mechanical production of music
from sight, he camo upon the idea Of rendering his
orchestra invisible to which end he sinks II seventeen
feet below the Lowell OF the stage The orchesrs, which
Is OF 12O members seated the width OF the
prosceuium and depth extending ten feet under the
stage itself The leader elevated above tho
rest that. though unseen by the audience he has
full command OF the singers the stage This not
the only innovation Wagner likewise leaves a space
Of eighteen feet wde and extending the entire breadth
Of the s;age-rom wall 10 wa-and from the orchestra
up to the roof Of the theatre perfectly irec Lie calls
this tho Mystic Space. and he intends that this wall
of music shall be here created separate the real
that Is the audence-from the ldca-that is the pc
lures on the stage.
rEcULiARirEs THEATRE
In order carry this very excellent idea Of
allowing nothing 10 intervene between tho audience
and the the stage Wagner also banishes foot
lights and prompcrs box The singers must know every
word Of tho text before they make their appearance
Even the audience compelled by wasocr know the
text OF the opera beforehand. since during the per-
ormances he permits only very subducd light in tho
auditorium, that Is impossible to follow the text.
All tho light (and sometimes darkncss Is concentrated
on the picture presented on the stage. The
acoustic arrangements excellent, as was strkingy
proved by the rehearsls Of last summer Every pro-
caution against fire has boon taken, and the possibility
of damp partially prevented by the collection Of the
underground waters in the depth OF the basement,
which also form n reservoir from which tho water
can be raised by OF engine through
iron pipes to large tanks under tho roof
Tho lighting OF the building attended with con-
siderable difficulty Tho original project of building
gasou,eer was abandoned, the managers OF the Bal
rcuth Gas Company having entered into contract to
supply superior gas sufficient quantity during tho
performances. To properly illuminate tho stage
less than 3,246 burners are necessary. Tho hall has
l57 burners, part in the capitals Of the pillars and
partly introduced consoles with flaming branches.
Tho other In the interior OF tho house lu
minated by 220 burners and tho exterior by so, SO
that In the whole there $500 Jets The orchestra
is lighted by lis oil lamps, attached to tho desks Tho
illumination of the stage ana amphtheatre is regulated
by means Of Two apparatuses Of new invention. The
steam for Transformations for rising log sinking
clouds, &C. is produced by boilers in building about
sixty tive feet distant from tho auditorium.
TIKI VISITORS.
Baircuth is day crowded TO excess with visitors,
those who intend witnessing the performances Of the
Nibelung cycles OF musical dramas, namcly:-the
tetrulogy OF tho Ring Of the Nibcun. comprising the
Introduction ''Rhsingod; then "rhe Valkyr" ''3leg
fried" and Notwithstanding, or tho 'Twight OF
the Gods) and some thousands Of people from neigh
boring towns aud the rural districts anxious
see the disting uishcd guests who present Tho
rehearsals have been going on since Saturday, the 3D.
of June and ended Wednesday, the 9th Of August.
during which period the artists here assembled ncud
ing the best names the German operate stage have
laborcd with unexam pied enthusiasm obtain perloc
ton in the delincation OF the work. The rehearsals In
costume commenced on Saturday. the 10th OF July,
ana twice repeated. At the former KING Lud-
wig, of Bavaria, was present and aono witnessed tho
performance, else being allowed TO be
| present in tho theatre Though this doa OF being
the solitary spectator may be considered Us purely
whimsical by many, yet there scarcely any other
way possible Tor tho young Music King to witness tho
performance, unless he would submit, 10 take sub
ordinate position to tho Kaiser u roalm where he
alone IL properly King and Kaiser. As It Is the
Princes Gallery will be occupied to evening hy
The Emperor Of Germany the purchaser Of twenty Ave
| full patrons tickcls the Grand Duke Of Mecklen-
| burg, SAKE Wcimar AMI Oldcnburg. the Duke Of
Anhalt- Dessau Prince George OF Prussia, the dramat
ist, Henry Nv. of keuss. Prince Wilhelm OF Hcssc,
Grand Duke Vladimir OF Russia, Emperor OF
Brazil The deceased Sultan of Turkey, Abdul ziz,
had purchased ten full patrons tickets, and the
Khedivc eleven. Among the guests who have arrived
at Baireuth and will DO present Sundays perform
ance of tho "Rhciugold' and the three following
days may DO mentioned the Prince Of Hohenzollern
| the Duke of Edinburgh. The following noble ladies
| and gentlemen also anticipate attending the fes-
ival:-Thc Princes Of Putbus and Bron of Courand
the Russian Field Marshall Prince Beratius, the
queror OF Schamyi and the Caucasus; the Austrian
Field Marshal Be,lesard Prince Hohenloc, the Princes
Lichten.tein, Halzcldt Ratibon, Galtzia Ujcst and
schwarzcnberg; Baron Rendel the German Ambassador
| in Rome (Bisnarck's friend and excellent COM
poser; Baron Radowuz Donna Laura Minghctti wife
Of the former Italian Premier, and his only daughter
now married to the German Charge dAfalrcs in Vienna
Count D0nnof; Baroness Schlcinitz, the wio Of tho
Prussian Minister and truo iriond OF Wagner, who
worked indefatigably for tho realization 81 his IDEAS
and in reality first made enthusiasm for tho maesfy0
fashonable the German Consul General at Alexandria
Count Bcrchcin; tho present Turkish Minister Of JUS
ticc Chal Sheriff Pacha, one OF tho consprators who
dethroned the late Sultan; Mr. 40 Sarkin Ottoman
Minister in Rome; Count Albrecht Arnin Boyzenburg
brothcr-inaw OF Count Harry; Count O'Sulivan, hus
band OF tho German tragcdicnnc Charlotte Wolter the
Governor OF Henegan, Prince Caraman -Chmay; the
Hellenic Minister in Paris Prince Ypsllant the Banker
Barons siBa Victor Erangcr, tho latter OF whom
has married admired prima donna Miss Sessi
the Hungarian Counts Paul Festitics Guido Karaisong
Pally, Albert AppoDyi. Count du Moulin, Count
Whizek; Count Guido Henkc OF Donncrsmark, whose
wife, formerly Marquisc dc Pava was OF the most
fashionable ladies' in Paris; Count Dimtri Benderdor.
who, since HIS marriage with the young Princess
walsko has made great display OF riches in Berlin;
Baron Eckardtstam, Of the richest in Prussia;
Baron Borbcck; tho ladies' Maria dc Muchanon, Julia
dc Abaza &C. or musical celebrities present arc Franz
IAszt; E. Dannrcuther OF London Ed schurc, auth or
OF "Ic Drame Musicale" excellent work; Fr
uucoer the autbor of .Rchard Wagner and tho