New-York tribune., 1876-09-01
WAGNER AT BAYREUTH.
FOURTH Observation-Disclosures

BAYREUTH, Aug. 17.-There is a constant upward
progress in the four divisions of Wagners
opera. "Segfred" is greater than " The Walktire,"
just as "The Walkiire' surpasses The RheingoId,"
and tonight reach overpoweriDg climax In
"The G6tterdinnmerungn {" Dusk of the GodsD) fos
WHOSE splendors the three previous perform
| ances hardly prepared us. Music, decoration, and
dramatic interest here rise TO what the bewildered
spectator believes must be their last expression;
and moreover in this in the other divisions the
climax is reached gradually. the last act in
every case being the most impressive, and
the anticipatlons of the audience kept con-
stanty alert until the final dropping of the
curtain. The Dusk of the Godsn has
for its special subject the atonement by Siegfried
and the extinction of the glores of Walhalla. II
begins with mOurnful prophecy Of the approach
ing end. When the stage was disclosed after very
brief prelude the three Nornes, Fates lone OF
whom was personated by the celebrated Johanna
Wagner, were deserted by the dim hight on Briinn-
hides rock They threw to one another the golden
rope of fate and in its strands read with dlsnay OF
misfortunes to the gods. The music here, the most
significant part Of which was given-accordng to
Wagnors frequent usage-to the orchestra and not
to the voices, was full of mysterious aud solemn
portent At last the rope parted, and crying out
that the end had come, the Nornes, locked in each
others arms, sank into the earth. Day broke slowly,
and with the increasing light the orchestra gave us
the first hint of new and most charming melody,
upon which, combined with motive often heard
last evening, Wagner has built up mag
nifcents and moving scene between Siegfried
and Briinnhilde. The hero, in full armor,
was now to go forth in quest OF honor
and adventure, and the Wakyrie, giving
him her horse took leave of him in duet which
combined, as no other music docs in the world, the
lofty heroic spirit inspiring the whole tragedy with
the ardent wonan's love which constitutes cne OF
its main springs of action Here again Materna, who
bears upon her strong shoulders much of the bur-
den OF the last three nights, moved and electrified
the whole house. Husband and wife exchanged
vows of eternal fidelity and siegfried having placed
upon Brinnhilde's finger the Ring of the Nibelangs
as wedding token, disappeared in the valley, the
notes of his silver horn coming up from below while
the Walkyre watched his retrcating form.
Thus far we had only q prologue to the drama
The curtain remained drawn during long in-
strumental lnterude, but there was no inter-
mission The interlude was one of the most beau
tiful and ingenious things in the whole work.
1t was founded upon the notes of the horn,
which changed almost imperceptibly into sort
of scherzo. Other motives identified with the
hero were afterward introduced, and the whole were
combined in magnificent specimen of imposing
proachable master of the orchestra. When the cur
tain rose again for the first act the stage set to
represent court in the dwelling OK Gunther. chief
of the race Of the Gibchungs on the Rhine. The
room into which we looked opened right and left into
inner apartments. At the rear it was not inclosed,
but from it's outer edge pleasant slope led down to
| the shore The river, coming from the Tar back
| ground flowed by on the left Trees and rocks
filed up the scene on the right. The mountains be-
yond the river appeared on the distant horizon.
The architecture of the hall was rude and heavy,
but rich according to the fashions OF primitive
age. There was popularity in the lighting which
had marvellous effect. Little or no hight was
thrown from the interior Of the hall even the au-
ditorium had to reflect but the open country
at the back was glowing in the sun, and the illu-
mination came from there as il would have done IN
nature This was contrary to all theatrical usage,
but the result was admirable. At a raised table on
one side sat Gunther DSugen Gura) and bus sister
Gutrune (WeckerlinI with drinking horns before
them On the lower level was Gunthers half
brother Hagen CSehrl, natural son of Alberich,
and the OWL principle of this division OF the
drama. Hagen sang the praises OF Segfried,
whom he declared TO be the fttest hero to wed Gu
trune aud of Brilnnhde whom he wished Gunther
To take to wife, Hagcns plot being to get possession
Of the ring In the midst of this conversation Sieg-
he arrived in a boat. Received with cordial hospi-
tality, he gave in richly varied scene an account
of his adventures and swore oath OF brotherhood
with Gunther drinking with him from q horn in
which each had mingled with the drink a few drops
of his own blood. Old and motives were
welded together in the Instrumentation of this inter-
estiug scene The story of Alberch's treasures
brought back "reminiscences of the Nibelhem music,
and tho oath was accompanied by an expressive
phrase which was merely the oft-repeated law
motiycp somewhat curtailed Gutrme meanwhile
had watched the hero with uncomfortable admra-
lion and readily yielded TO Hagen's advice to mix
him n love potion. Siegfried took the drink.
Instantly all recollection OF his Intercourse with
Brilmhiide was magically etiaced lie conceived
violent passion for Gutune. He asked to have her
for wife, and promised in return to aid GImther in
obtaining Biiin,hde. Impatient of a moments
delay, he seized his arms, he hurried Gunther at
once to the boat, and pushed out into the river.
There was line distinction between the exciting
music in which all this was conveyed, and the love
nusic of the prologue and the previous evening in
which the volsung had sung his passion for Briinn-
hilde That was the rapturous expression Of paro
| and noble feeling; this was the fury of an insane
and reckless nfatuation. But the orchestral inter-
ludc which followed the departure OF Segfried and
GunShcr ithc curtain meanwhile being dropped for
few minutesD, brought us back TO the love melody
| of the prologue, and SD prepared us for the
next scene, on Brlnnhildcs rock, where the
Walllyrie sat contemplating siegfricd's ring. The
recurrence of the motive of the Walkdres Ride pre-
pared MS for the appearance of Briinnhdc's sister
"spear-maidonp Watraute (Frl. Jaide who came to
beg that Siegfrcd's ring might be returned 10 the
! Daughters of the Bhne, and the fate of the gods
| tl,u. ovcrtpd With correct DOctical perccption.