New-York tribune., 1876-08-23

the other rarts of the work, bat nobody who has
not seen 1t here can form conception of lis un-
earthly beauties it's stupendous and always ncreas-
ing effects 1t flows OH, without pause or division
into acts for nearly two hours and half ana dur
inc all that time we sat spell-bound, our eyes fixed
mon tho wond, rfu spectacle, our ears drinking IN
the strange sounds. 1t was hot night, anu the
treater is entirely without ventilation; but We for
got the sitting air aud when the curtain fell az last
unon the closing scene whore the gOds cross oVe'
the rainbow bridge 10 their gorgeous castle IN the
clouds we seemed to awake from dream OF delight,
and wondered ut the hight Of time. We had en-
tered tho theater by daylight; 1t was nearly
10 o'clock when, silent and thoughtful. we groped
our way out. anu then fresh surprise awaited U.s.
The whole city was illuminated. Rows If lights
cleaned along the mile of road which leads froih
the theater down to the town. From the hill where
we stood Bayreuth was visible in its full extent,
bathed in light, The facades of the public build
;pos were All traced in lines of fre-for .lnmina-
tions in this part of the world unlike our own' are
alvays arranged with ingenious architectural
effects A minute later and the royal coach dashed
nv A servant on horseback rode ahead WIN
lantern attached 90 pole plain close carriage
followed with servants in simple livery, ard We
caught merely glimpse OF dark young man
inside few score Of men and boys running in dis
orderly fashion alongside and cheering family and
two or three policemen painting in their rear.
To-day tho King graciously permitted Herr Wag-
ner to lot in ali the world TO tEo dress rehearsal OF
the Walkiren and 40 at . o'clock the theater was
entirely filed When everything was Teacy the
composer appeared in the Kings box and informed
fbs audience. which was standing III expectation of
King l.udwne's entrance for the shout ofsweicomo
had just been heard outside) that His Majesty al
l,c .ntO on
tion that he should not be annoyed by any demon
s+ratons: they were therefore 10 respect the roya
wishes Sowc took our seats and after the lights wero
mt ont the King slipped into his box unseen. Tho
"Walkiirer was even more effective and surprising
than "Rhengold." | wish everybody who has au-
mired "SiegInund's Love Song" the "'"aik'ren
Ritz and ''Wotan's Abschiod" in Nev-Tork could
have hesrd Niemann, Botz. aud Frau NateIna a
those great numbers, and witnessed The spendor oil
scenic decoration and dramatic action toy winch
they were illustrated. The "WalHire," Ike the
two subsequent parts of the work. Is divided lAto
three acts and between the acts there ntormis-
siors of nearly an hour duiag which the people go
ont for beer and fresh air. There is no applause
either during or after the music, no recognition Of
indivduel singers and of coarse no talking or other
disturbance among the audience But when every
thing is over for tine night then the penup feelings
fndepthusiastc expression Before the second act to-
night Herr Wagner wentinto The mystic gull and
invisible 10 the audence but distinctly heard, MADE
speech of compliment and thanks 20 bis orchestra.
And they richly deserved it, for their work IS mag
niticent. They are under the direction of Hans
Richter and the first violin is played by the dStin-
guished virtuosc Wilhelmj. The men are selected
with g1eat care from the best orchfStras OF ter
many and tee composition of the band Is az foil""S
1st and 2d vofns 50 violas II; YiolonceiI, u;
BASES, s; flutes 4; hautboys, 4 English horn, ;
cla1iuets 3 bass clarinet bassoons' I; contra
fagotto. ! horns, z; tenor and bass tuhas' i ;
trumpets 3; bass trumpet, ; tTomboncs ) contra
bass trombone, / ; contra-blss tuba, l; drums, .
barps S; organ. l total, 116. Ii viii be seen that
there arc several instruments here not usually ON
ployed in the orchestra inclC ling the Obsolete bass
trumpeg which Wagner pnt in his Philadelphia H.
auguration March. The organ is little instrument
of merely seven deep bass notes uScd to support th'
contra-bss. tuba in the introduction 10 Rhcingoid
and some other passages wherc there are long sus-
tanned notes for which the breath of no human,
being suffices. newly invented viola, considera-
by larger than the common instrument, is also en-
ployed