The New York herald., 1876-08-15
Second Performance at the Baireuth
Festal Theatre.
''DIE WALKURE" A GRAND SUCCESS.
A Remarkable Triumph Of Scenic and
Mechanical Skill
MUSIC OF THE PASSION
Departure of the Emperor of Germany
from Baireuth

departure OF tne emperor OF Uerlnany
from Baireuth.
(W1HAL DHPArCH 10 THE HERALD By cABLA
BArREUrH, Bavaria, August Is, 1876.
whatever may have been the success OF the in
PRODUCTION TO the Tri " Of Wagner, "Rheingold."
yesterday It was entirely overshadowed by the
grandeur OF the representation OF "Die walknre"
this evening, The impression created by the first
opera ofthe Trilogy OF the most profound char
acter The interest taken by the many thousand
visitors who have come all the way to the ancient
home OF the Margraves to hear the great music
drama viii become more intensified with each per-
formance. Certainly II the success Of each part of
the Trilogy increases in the proportion as has
been the case between the two first performances,
THE TRIUMPH OF WAGNER
win be Of the most complete kind. There was the
same eager crowd Of visitors and the profound
attention at the theatre during the representation.
The auditorium was darkened as BEFORE but silence
the scenes
THE FIRST ACT
Tho curtain rose while the last notes of the
Vorsptel noated up from the "mystic abyss" and
the dreary hall OF Hunding, with large tree in the
CENTRE was unfolded to view. This scene was ex.
which Ortrud and Telramund reproach each other
in the beginning Of the second act of Lohengrin.n
There were some suggestions OF lovely melody here
md there in the commencement but they were
Of an evanescent character. sleglinde, repre-
scented by Madame schefzky, proved to be a
very ungrateful role, as 1t was permeated with
THE DEEPEST MELANCHOLY,
nnd there seemed not to be single ray Of light to
hispel Its gloom. Hunding (Herr Niering) was
scarcely better, although cast in more robust form
role OF siegmuud by the celebrated Berlin tenor,
Niemann, and the varying themes always clad in
Che richest orchestral raiment, OF te unhappy son
q wotau, formed the main attraction of the first
act
woTAN AND THE vALKYR.
Nine. Amale Materna, from the Imperial Opera
House, Vienna, and Franz Betz, the renowned bari
tone, made q striking appearance on the summit Of
the mountain in the second act, where they repre-
pentcd Brlnnhilde and wotan. Both were arrayed
In giitterng armor, and the fine dramatic voice of
the lady gave to the extraordinary phrases known
the composer.
OUTBURSTs OF APPLAUSE.
The scene between Brunnhilde and Siegmund and
Eiegllnde in this act, in which the valkyr resolved
TO brave wotan's anger and to protect the lovers,
was triumph of the most emphatic kind for the
composer and the artists. Notwithstanding the
desire OF Wagner that no outward manifestations
OF applause should be indulged in, lest the con-
tinuity Of thought should be interrupted, the
dience found 1t impossible to restrain their enthusi
asm, and, during the second act, the outbursts Of
applause at times were deafenng.
A SCENIC TRIUMPH.
One Of the grandest effects ever produced on the
stage was the camp OF the waktiren in the third
slain warrior lying across her saddle bow, dashed
across the stage among crsgs and fir trees all sing
Ing the wild chant, the walkare mottI brandishing
their spears and shaking their FURNISHED shields.
THE GRAND FIRE SCENE
Tho close Of the opera, however. was the princi.
pal feature Of the performance. AS BrunnuIde
sank into her magic slumber the nre god appeared
Ht the command OF Wotan and as the noble voice OF
Betz decaimed forth the words, "Ioge h0r p the
stage, auditorium and the surrounding plaza be.
feet Illusion ever witnessed on any stage. One
would imagine that an immense connagration was
in progress On this scene the curtain closed for
Che last time and then the enthusiasm Of the audi
ence reached fever pitch.
WAGNER WAS REPEATEDLY CALLED FOR,
but It was Of no avail. He would not appear before
his admirers. Then calls were made for the artists
but they also declined to acknowledge the tribute
paid to them. The performance commenced at four
O'Clock, the signal being given in front OF the theatre
BY eight trumpcters. as on the previous evening. At
che close OF each act there was an intermisson Of
IN hour, during which time the audience
betook themselves to dnerent parts OF the town.
returning to their seats when the well known
trumpet call was heard The curtain fell on the last
oct at half-past nine O'Clock.
DEPARTURE or THE EMPEROR OF GERMANY.
The Emperor Of Germany and the other royal per.
sonages who attended the performance OF "Rhen-
gold" we're present tins evening After the per.
formance the Emocror William took his departure
for Babeisberg.
PLOT or THE rrpsr opvpA M rup rprroCy
"Die wnkurc" may be considered as the first part
81 the Trilosy OF Wagner 1t the interest OF the
uory OF the music drama begins The pro-
ioguc, "Rhcingold" deals entirely with super.
natural beings Abcrich, the dwarf, steals the
Rhine gold from the daughters Of tho Rninc
shaping into ring that confers upon him supreme
power. The ring Is taken from him by Wotan and