The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-09-03

Tho Pubiic Feeling with Reference TO Wan.
uer's Operas -Wngner's Triumph.

Tho Pubiic Feeling with reference TO wae.
per's Operas -Wagner's Triumph.
BAYREUTH, Aug. 1.-THE first pcrform-
ance OF the "Rng Of the Niebelungen" Is at Last
finished, the "G6tter-Danmerung" Uwinght
Of the Gods). given this evening. copcluains
the u eat cycle OF tue uilosy.
As to my own impression, I can only repeat
what I said In my last letters In which gave an
account of the tehearsals; but may adj that
the favorable impression l then expressed
has been greatly intensified by IA second hear
ing OF the operas. will, instead Of INV own i'm
pressions, therefore, endoavor to give you thoss
mad upon the public.
The gigantic proportions OF the works and
the mastery art with which the details Hers
executed we're very imposing. IL seems to he
conceded by friend aud foe alike, that w gnos
stands first among musical artists, and that all
musicians will derive profit from the study VI
his great scores. The opposition to Wagner
seems to couaue itself to his principles, his
ability In giving EXPRESSION to those principles
being admitted. But his art-work has not In
my judgment strictly grown from his princ'ptes.
lie has rather formulated In his operas the pun-
cipies conceived by Gluck, ami has elevated
them into what he believes to be an invioiabls
law. How far his opponents will be able TO
Rainssy that law, tune, the inhexible judge
alone can determine.
And this will account for the fact that whiis
certain Of waeuer's bitter enemies reject the
Ring OF the Nebelungen as whole, they
nevertheless speak OF many separate parts of
the drama with the same enthusiasm as his
most devoted admirers. -
The arst act, for Instance, OF the "N0lkdre,"
has no evening, and the I" RIDE Of the WLku-
rem" with IT. superb scenic effects, created me
most impetuOus admirsiiDn.
/ he greater part Of the "SieRfried" also made
aprofound impresslon' while me nnal ACT 81 Joe
and silence all opposition.
hui the appreciati IN Of single portions or
scenes Is neither Wugner's ain nor the develop
ment OF art as he understands II. His greatness
consists In the fact that he puts before w
picture perfect in LIS unity, nafmonlously com
ulete in all its parts. lie does not ie y from
height TO height leaving the beaier to follow
hm-bOn gre NAL gTe-Out ne leads US step ov
step with a logical DEVELOPMENT " MS great
thoughts, arrived at which We afu astonlsneu 70
see how grand and rich IN adorn uent has ooon
| the y ith We have tragersed. Inc puphc iptersst
| In Wagner's tiilOgy evidently Increased iIom
| evening to evening ~ the pertpr nance pro-
| creased. Hts stve, naturally strange and In
| CON prehensiOle to many In the beginning, IN sus
| It's power more apparent IA the work .dVanoeo.
| although IL must he confessed tn,t the execu-
| ton was not OF the UNIFORM exceilenro OF tho
work itself. In theinsold slgnt stinnsst
| and Timothy were noticeable on the part az
| some OF the singers, and the wofhlnR OF tno
scenic arrangements was OCCASIONALLY 9eieouves
| nut M the " Mhlkufe" the right spirit came
over the artists, and al went stnoothlV. IL must,
however, he admitted that, ~ wnoe, the per
| fortnAnce oil the Ring of the Me eiunRen has
| .urp.ss d any previous uruductiOn ui drAmaus
| ART the world has ever witnessed.
| Heir lietz from Berlin (iOtaW delights nv hts
sonorous voice and the noo,litv Of hts delivery.
Nieman (StgDundD. Nv plastic m'mierl unns,
tSiegfIitd ~ ms dash aud heroic bearing, Vvsef
| (In,G by nis incompatible acting ard Staging,
| " hIle several of the minor parts were rendered.
w" NM daISnp.r. aud me Norns; but lbs
rendition of tue parts Of htme bv Heir SchioF-
ser from Municn and tne powerful role Of
BrllnhiLie by Frau Amdia Materna from NieonA
we're masterpieces that deserve tue higheza
praise.
finest artistic taste. and the Scenic ARRANGE
ments, conducted by Wagner himself were eI-
tremely effective nd often surp t-ins and as
tonisniug ~ tneir novelty. INGENUITY aud reality
MENTION tue orchestra last because VII 20
praise IL most. Ii was perfectly balanced and
equally excellent in quality and execution.
Each musician carried bis part through the
fatlg ing rehearsals and performances with en-
thusiasuc ZEAL Impressed with the necessity VI
overcoming all difficulties and OF rendering Tue
/ masters work faul'lessiy. Inc single pNts
were studied Al home and indeia,igabiy 10
hearsed In the theatre, all resuitnl nnaly In an
> ensemble marked oy perfect mel 'dlc beauty a.
| well us yividness OF dram ttc execution. Ihese
artists Il. serve unDOundcd pr"lse Tor tnen zeai'
, Gus perseverance. and the ovation OF anplaus.
would have been prodigi0us and lrresstihIe mad
. | not Wagner himself To- bdden all sucn demon
1 stration as an Innovation on tue UNITY oi ne
-Attrrs,, IN cTdtf9Emance Of "Rheingold y.
and other suyereigns aud princes, called louai,
Tor Wagner for at least nfteen minutes, but ID,
composer Jailed To make his APP Jedrance. NeIl
dav placards from Wagner were p,Isled aysrs
where stating that he mad agreed with his artisi,
" u'ahV hp itspolse To calls 50 lnat they IA
NOT invest themselves OF the cuaracters which
tbeN assumed ~ the nram aud ne again r.
| questsd the audience e. refrain from any fur,
tner demonstration. sun, althpugh these dine.
tlnns put an end T. calls for Wagner the puh,,n
enthusiasm was frequently aroused, aud tas
muse suook win ieNerber at 'ns OF ami .use
Al the conclusion at Go teruA umrruns n
the audience burst into ftna teal arIuonstrn.
lions OF appreciation. Handksfchiefs nd nsts
were W 'ved and Wagner was called for M =
aoLen iinguaees, until at length he Appeared
before the curtain and In q few weli-cnosrn
WpTurs dlull GREATNESS silence. eX n -
tn nks. "'N''SN ~
Tue lnital moment Of new epoch In thu
musical history OF the world hau arrN ed Toe
ereat master. who had spent thirty wear, ami !,
thousand dilhcultie,, dis res., ana despair had
~ hst Thought tue Mnola musical world 10 reu-
ueI hoindse 10 his prlnclules ~ art. Ne mad
uulted the le ding spirit OF dinet.nt sobooIs
ana hau hrouKnt the Ditter.s enemies 10 thst
.Iice Whlch ne mas desiguatsd a, IN. tbe.IT.
LOT the redllZ ton OF nls real
e ul-tlhk llshed audience Is itself sum eient
eNu'nv" OF aghei'S triuinuii. add A ,reuth
W heh'"i"ith the watchNorI for "A yotari.. ~
the ui'tl ana houli - form If M q Al m Let
We noe thal The great master uu, see All inc
'uehis ~ Ms genus fully fe.llLei iur oar nsnenS
anu ior the lnspi alton OF coming gen ,rnttnnsI
LEOPOLD nAMaosCH