New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-09-23
WAGNER,s FESTIVAL.
TIIE LAsT PERFORMANCE.

Walls IN THE CITIES OF GERMANY--CoNvERTs
TO THE NEW SCHOOL
IRON AN OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE rRTBUNEl
BAYREUTH, Aug. 81" The BdhReVestspielc
are ended; whether they win be repeated, know not"
With tless words Richard Wagner opened his short
address last night TO the enthusiastic audience which
had gathered hear the third and last performance of
"The Ring Of the Hibelung" The third sees, as well as
the second was in most respects far superior 80 the
frst, which may be partly due to the fact that the
weather was not 0ppressiyely hot the first
week The frequent bitches In scenic changes which
occurred during the first series did not occur again. and
It is matter OF regret that they should have occurred
at ALL since they gave rise to unfavorable comments In
the parersa the more because such wonders had been
promised in that particular department Of the stage
play. Even tho final scsne-Bruunhde rushing into
the burning funeral pyre, Hagen dragged down into the
Rhine by the Rhine daughters, and the burning Wal
haaWas well executed this time, but yet not 80 sue
cessfuy as 10 remove the general impression that the
scene is an unworthy conclusion to the great work
The curtain had scarcely dropped on the G6tterdam-
merung when King Louis III. jumped up from his seat
and began applaud aud In second the whole house
broke in with bravos cappng of hands, swinging of
hats and handkerchiefs, and calls for Wagner who at
last appeared the stage and received with per-
feet shower OF wreat1s and bouquets many OF which,
however fell down into the mystic gulf" After alud-
ing to the purpose of the enterprise and the reasons
which guided him in the choice of the word Bhncnfest
SPIEL he spoke OF his generous patron the king without
whose kind interest they would not be assembled for
such purpose, well Of the late Carl Tausig who
had SO molly supported him in his work. But they who
first enabled him bring his production before the pub
lie and thas to complete 1t were the artists and 1t was
fitting that they should now show themselves The eur
tain parted and disclosed the artists standing
in semicrcle with Hans Richter and Materna in the
middle and at the sides Prof D5pper Brandt, and the
Wa irQQ
his warmes thanks FOR their generous dlsinteresed sup
port and babe them all farewell As the curtain fell lie
was seen going round and shaking hands with them Ar
rangcmens had been made for grand illumination ana
thousands Of little lamps had been fastened to the front
side OF the theater facing the city But unfortunately
violent ranstorm put out all the lamps as soon as they
were lighted.
Bayreuth not noted the visitors that attended
the festival for the cheapness Of lodgings or conve
nence getting daily supplies OF food 1t Is not TO be
wondered at therefore, that special train carried of
most Of the guests last night as well as the ARTISTS VINO
are all glad TO get home again after their absence OF
three months. and DESTROYS Of making tn best OF the
little portion OF their Summer vacation which IA left 10
them. Bayreuth is, II by magic, transformed from
gigantic conservatory Of music back again into the quiet
little town OF 10000 inhabitants. 1t viii seem strange
to the Bayrcuthers be Obliged to return to their old
prices and the landlords will look with astonisment at
the vacant seats at their tables To them howey the
Wagner TbcateF has brought rich Nibelung treasures,
and OF them will be ready to follow the example OF
Father, and spend the rest Of their lives IN guarding
their gains No more viii Angernann till II O'Clock in
the night distribute his beer TO the capellmeistcrs,
hofmusckers opera Singers, and priua donnas assem-
bled IN his rooms and longer Will the lounger on the
hear the sound OF violin or harp coming out OF
every other window ia tho second story OF each house
The King left last night, riding, in company with
Wagner through an alley formed Of citizens OF Bayreuh
"A. I...N To, a affnr thaiH
services and talents he had previously given to Herr
Betz Hans Richter, Profs. Wihelm and Brandt, the
RttsrEreu. Glass l. 10 Nicmanu, Frau Materna and
Ill., the Ludwigs medallion Of tine arts aud sciences
while the Rhine daughters Lii and Marie Lehman and
Miss Laumert, received each diamond ring These
three arc especial fayorites Of Wagner and next TO
Materna II was to them that be most frequently ad-
dressed his remarks and Jokes when he came TO see his
dock at the table dk6te in the Hotel Some The tone
poet" viii ind life duh for time, now that all his
friends are going away But hear that he Is going to
spend the Autumn and Winter in Italy in order to re-
cover from the fatigue brought by the preparations
for the festival and perhaps TO add some pages to the
score Of his now muslcdrama, Pcrciyal." Hanslick
thinks that far least the musical department Is
concerned, his last work. the "GGterddmmerung,"
strongly suggests the wagnerdammerung." But
AN one of the many who discern in that drama sufficient
spontancity OF musical invention to justify great ex
pectatious Of the future.
For the present the point Of most Importance is
whether the festival viii be regarded by tho German peO
pie "a sufficiently successful TO make repetition Of it
next year desirable And this point opinions do not
differ as much as one might imagine they would Many
WHO had made their last will aud testament before COM
ing here went away In quito an enthusiastic state OF
mind With the exception Of few details, the praise is
next TO unanimous in the Of siegred" and many
converts were made by this drama. 1t Will be brought
out during the coming Winter at Dessau, while the
walkre" will be given at Berlin, Vienna, and Leipzig
and at Munich the whole Tetralogy will be produced
why then il these dramas after all going TO he pro-
duced Mt the German capitals, have repetition OF the
performances ia such an Out-Oi-the-Way place as Bay
10 make dramatic art flourish in the country by trans
planting IL from its natural and fertile soil in large
cities Why, finally subject oneself 70 the exOretant
priccS and want OF accommodations sure tn be met with
la such small cityi Such the questions which one
only by the ordinary spectator but by reporters for daily
papers, who ought TO have been aware that wagner
wished I'm the first place form the initiative OF series
OF performances OF works Of art executed only by first
artists from all parts OF the country SO that tue ira
dillon of perfect might bc established. This could
only bc done place where the artists are outside OF
the ordinary routine Of their operate career IL would
evening and in the "Walkire" the next.
Thou again Wagner means raise art from the humble
iabos OF the day aud to insure Il the undivided and
fresh attention of the mind early In the evening; Vn
Locality like Bayreuth could this object be secured
work of art thana walk TO the Fantasia the Erem
tage And then who can fail the beauty OF the idea
of having an annual reunion of the lovers OF music at
some place, aud OF performing and listening 10 new
works OF the masters OF times The works need not
necessarily be the Wagner school, Rbnsten, next to
Wagner the abest composer OF che day. but too young
as ch 10 possess as yet the reputation lie deserves has
written several which should he prOduced here In
the manner In which the des Nbelungen has just
been brought Iu general It Is easy To see what
stimulus this plan, il successful, VIII be To young eO-
posrrs Tue realization OF WaRners ideal, little UNI
certain for the immediate future Is certainly eonsumna
ton devouty 20 be wished II Is said that Wagner has
already engaged Unger for next Summer, end EFFORTS
will doubtless be made to have repetition or the
Festival Tie sngers who gave their services free this
year. have promised royal rewards IN case oil repe
ton The teater with It's gas apparatus, engines seen
cry etc. Il completed now, and hence the expenses m
would be auto lnslgneant so that the