The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1876-08-16
r>r<risl a!>rs'cn TO the Herald by csblc.l

Special Gi>,a,cN 70 The Herald by cablcl
HIRPvyn. BAVARIA. August IS, 1876.
TIL. l3.h of August. 1876, will form an
,.:,acA in the history Of music second to none
-, ;,apar:anrc. The long dream Of Richard
Wgoncr'> life has been realized. and his un-
questionable genius, unbending will, i'll
Gnrlirahla ucrSeycranccs and 4 rooted belief
ua; only in the heavy task he imposed on
fia>tii. hU; IL his absolute power to accom-
,l;,a !. successfully. have brought forth the
r..;vrl fruit. When. thirty years ago, his
o,.rr7 i ..Rianzi was produced ut Drcs-
in. i was hut the reflection OF the style OF
his carly friend Mcyerbeer. Since that time
his artistic nature has cast oil all fetterS OF
,rrviic imitation. and the elimination OF the
l,borS OF :: lifetime is found in the great
music drama which commenced to-day III
this town Of Eaireuth. The performance
ri Rheingold.' which j. the Introductory
iuu,ic drama 10 the Ring OF the Nibelun-
srn,"' commenced At : O'Clock this evening
and lasted three hours. Long before the
prescribed hour for the opening OF the festal
theatre all Baircuh was excited, and the
vast concnur>c OF visitors was out OF doors
eagerly waiting the moment when they
could enter tho temple OF muSlc-thc al
halla OF the lyric art.
ROYAL. VISITORS.
Th, Emperor OF Germany, the Emperor
and Empress OF Brazil. the King OF Bavaria,
Prince. George Of Prussia. the Prince OF Ho-
hcnZol"rn. Prince Wilhelm OF Hcssc, Grand
Duke Vladimir oi Russia, the Grand Duke
oi Mccklvnbcrg. the Duke OF Anhalt DeS-
san. and large ninher Of other titled mag
mates occupied seats in the Princes Gallery.
About sixty Americans attended the per-
iornanrr. The scene in the auditorium OF
the theatre before the commencement OF the
music drama was an exceedingly brilliant
one. Looking UP from seat in the amphl-
theatre toward the Princes Gallery the eye
WAS dazzlcd with the >piendor OF the uni
forms OF the suites Of the various royal per-
Sonages. forming Il bright background to
the large a>>cmblagc OF visitors that filled
the 300 seats Of the amphithcatrc.
Above the Royal Gallery was second one.
in which large number OF the citizens OF
Balrcuth were seated. An unusual feature
for a German opcra-housc was the prcya-
lcncc OF full evening dress. which lent an
additional attraction 10 the body OF the the
atrc.
TIE WARNING FANFARE.
At o'clock eight trumpcters. stationed
in the opening or front OF the theatre over
the amphithratrc. gave the signal for the
commencement Of the work, and the echoes
II the lon- trlmpct-call had scarcely dled
away toward the distant Fichtclgebirgc and
Kulon> when from the "mystic abyss the
"ucninr strains Of the invisible orchestra OF
Hans Richter tloated through the house. To
those accustomed TO the brilliantly-light
elect OF The great opcrg-hou>es OF Europe
the appearance OF the Wagner theatre was
yrry singular. The auditorium was quite
dark. ight there being considered by the
COMPOSER is calculated to distract the atten-
lion of his hearers. Another strange fca-
lurc was the suppression OF all outward ap-
ult,lSc. which is also regarded by Wagner
&, annoviug, and destructive to that con-
tinuity OF thought necessary for the full ap-
probation and enjoyment OF his great Work.
FIRST SCENE.
When the curtain rose on the first scene,
the bed OF the Rhine, the effect was so life
like that it was difficult for the audience to
restrain their delight. The three Rhine
nymphs or mikes, Woglinde, Wellgunde,
and Flosshildc, appeared, gliding about,
singing and chasing each other among the
rocks. The "water music" which accom-
panies this scene is that Of flowing, undula-
ting character that fits the dreamy songs OF
the nymphs and is full of charm. Woglinde
sings the opening measures with the strange
words. .'Wcia! waga Woge, du .Welle /"
The voice OF Mime. Lille Lehman blended
admirably with the orchestral accompanl-
Inent. Marie Lehman and Minna Lam
inert, who represented the other two
nymphs. were no less effective. The ap-
i"arancc OF the dwarf Alberich, and his
seizure Of the magic "Rheingold," formed
the next feature in the opening scene.
THE HONE OF THE GODS.
From the waters OF the Rhine to the
mountain-tops, on which the gods were dis
covered slumbering, was noiseess and re-
narkablc change. Here occurred long
duet between Wotan (Odin), the sun god,
and Fricka his wife, followed by some
characteristic music for the giants, Faffner
ana faSolt. AS the scene progressed Freia,
the goddess OF Love and Spring; Froh, her
bfothtr; Bonner (Thor), Loge (the fire god,
ana Erda tEarth), were heard, each having
some peculiar instrumental motif by which
lie or she might be recognized. This phrase,
although generally short, partook much of
The character OF the parsonage 1t repre-
sented.
NlBELHEIM.
FROM the mountains to Nibelleim, the
dark abode Of Alberich and his dwarfs, was
sombrc change. The repulsiye Alberich
hlohopolIes the greater portion Of the
music OF this scene, and it was a severe test
lot The baritone voice Of Carl Hill, one in
which, however, he was entirely successful.
Inc scene ended with the capture of the
oWtrl King by the sun god and fire god.
Back 10 the mountains again, an agreeable
change, especially as in the Nibelheim scene
every part OF the theatre was in gloom.
hc gods dragged i'll their unwilling pri-
>oher, and forced him to give up the ring
anu all his other treasures. .5,, /st ~
THE CURSE OF THE RING. ,'s,.'.
Inc curse which Alberich harris after the
ring l. grand piece OF musical declama-
'l0h, and Herr Hill delivered it with rare
eject and emphasis. Erda's prophecy OF
me sad twilight Of the gods is one OF
the features OF the work, and it received due
Justice from Mile. Luise Laide. The ap-
pearance OF Erda, as she rose up in the
midst OF the gods, was very picturesque.
lie last scene represented the gods cross
ing over by what was designed to represent
rainbow bridge into'the palace OF Walhal-
Ia, rejoicing atI the recovery of their god
dess Freia, while from the depths below
rose the sweet voices Of the Rhine daugh-
ters, apostroplising the magic 'sRhein-
gold" Of which they had been robbed. The