The New York herald., 1877-03-01

five oi the operas o composers with the
very opposite tendencies. Wagner sought therefore,
by Withdrawing the performance OF his works from
ordinary stage influences to lay the ioun-
dation OF a higher order dramatic perform
arcc; and TO this end the first steps were
taken last summer in Baireuth. single summer
lions OF 200 years; and had Wagner designed making
further endeavors toward inparths 10 SINGERS
pct,er method the building Of special theatre Tor
weeks service would have been piece OF eAtrava-
CANT folly But his purpose as he hhd previously oA.
planned H. had always been TO make lnc 'esIv.is , ~ ~
wh ch singers already masters oil the tecnnca stues
OF their profession, should come from an Germany % 70
receive the finishing education that would make them
artists II was not proposed OF course. TO make che
festivals a series OF repetitions OF The Ring des Nioe
ungen. - but they were to DO ampined rom Tune 10
time by the addition Of whatever works might repay
the trouble OF a model performance
THE SCOPE wAGyER's ENDEAvoKs.
Nobody fam,har with The German operatc stage can
deny the necessity that such measure should DO
Undertaken; and the great advantage whicn the ura-
matte OF nation would gain u sucn pan were
carried INTO execution, is obviously beyond the need
oil comment. The chief difficulty lies IN carrying ~
out IN the particular which wagner has indi-
cacd Impressed with the national Importance oil his
toni control: but his most sanguine friends cx-
press hope that the government, already burdened
with the necessity OF its enormous army, WIN enter
tam for a moment this prospect OF new expenditures
A small amount OF practical foresight ought 10 have
brought this reflection home to Wagner before he ven
turcd public his proposal ana ~ Is whispered
In the best circles nerc that King Louis OF
Bavaria has expressed no little disapprova OF the in
considerato way IN which the composer-of whom he
Is the chief friend aud patronhas seen tit TO act HIS
Majesty ght himself have at least for two
years tho sum which Wagner thought necessary, for
inc intense popular interest which the last
SIX months controversy over tho music OF tho
future has awakened gives abundant assurance that,
on repetition the festival mt the proposed reduced
prices, far larger sum than the money advanced VIII
be refunded Moreover, by the time two more
the permanent and national value of the
undertaking which Wagner proposes would, in
all probability, be much moro generally under
stood, and appeal TO the German Parliament might
not be unsuccessful For the present, however all
speculatons us to how the establishment OF the pro.
posed national school Of musical and dramatic art VIII
ally be effected most uncertain. whether the
plan Will be carried by tho King OF Bavaria or by
the German government or by the subscriptions OF
private individuals (some OF whom have already
offered most liberal ad); all these are questions TO
which no positive answer can yet be given. All that
be definitely stated is that, In answer to wagners
appeal action has already been taken IN ono quarter
toward the formation OF u society OF Patrons inc
Berlin Wagner Society met last week and made ar.
rangemcns for the payment by instruments OF the 100
marks which entities him who pays IT to membership
and Il seat at one performance OF the Ring des Nbe-
lung:n; more than sixty members Joined m. i, at once
societies in Munich and elsewhere.
HOSTILE CRITICISM
1t may be as well state distinctly that all remarks
which Wagner, in the unlcatlon translated above
has made concerning the character OF the audience
which he expects, directed solely against body OF
carping declamcrs. OF whom People in America are
probably ia bssiul ignorance. Three-fourths Of the
hostile criticism which, during tho last six months,
expressed itself IN German pamphlets and newspa-
pers Il mass OF ncohcrcnt defamation, which, CIV
ing no evidence tor any of its conclusions and exhibit
the characteristics OF Wagners work. contents itsel:
with repeating ellis music Is the most wearisome
abomnatlon that musical hcarcr ever forced to
endure" To which Wagner replies:-"You are not
compelled to endure It, anu presence Is rather
disagrecable than otherwise, you had better stay
away.u Practically, however they are just as much
liberty 10 como before. NO oath oil allegiance Is
obliged TO be by those who would enter tho $50
cety of Patrons" Its membership Is open TO all. In
proof OF this make the following extract rom let
Ter from Wagner, which received lew days ago.
Enclosing copy OF the above communication he
ANOTHER LETTER FROM WAGNER
by tae m enc,osea @ rrcuar ~ yo sve w @ , aoa @ from
s
% H"s se sn WITCH apply Es os &
S be given every Gns the soeiey
should be SdeH wASET sie
THE NEXT PERFORMANCES
The method ol obtaining tickets being thus indicated
the question OF greatest interest IS, "Whcn Will the
next performances at Baireuth be givens" IL ut
first proposed to omit tho festival atogother this
as M eoed as rest n0 as we as
tuni,y to finish his new drama, "Parcival," which
Is to be the complement OF "Lohcngrln' But the
eagerness hear trle2y is great that 1t has
been deemed advisable to repeat 1t this year and so
strike while the iron hot But positive announce
that the performance Will tako place can yet be
made since the arrangements with the SINGERS and
members OF the orchestra nrc not complete. l have
little doubt, however, that by the tune this letter
reaches America II not BEFORE tho date Of this years.
festival will have been sent by telegraph
Is DOING.
Meanwhile have authority for stating what
rangements have been made up TO the present time.
Unger who sang the part Of Seg!red has been under
contract last years. festival, as he during
preceding year. not to sing upon any stage Under
the OF Professor Hey OF the Royal Music
School here, he has devoted all his tmo to tho study
his r6t OF the other singers who have thus far re-
sponded to Wagner's invitation TO sing next summer
| Betz, who appeared as Wotan, Is the only one who
| has declined Nicmann will again sing Siegmund.
Vogl Schlosser, Schcfsky and the others from Munich
will appear in their former characters Materna who
is under at the royal opera IN Vienna, will
also appear again as Brnnnhide. Hans Richter, Wag
ner's devoted irend is also under engagement at
Vienna but as he took to insert in his original
contract provision that MIR. Jauner should not in
tcrfere with any which, In times Of inactivity
at Vienna Wagner might require Of him, he Is In no
danger OF suffering IRON any phase Of trickcry
which the Vienna manager may exhibit, and he will
certainly conduct tho orchestra at the next perform
ances.
No further particulars concerning the arrangements
can now be given. Changes Will be made IN the sup
porters OF some Of the lesser characters OF tho
rilogy; but these are still Indefinite and have al
ready stated lar more than Is known by any people
but those who arc In direct personal communities
tion with Wagner. Until the performances are posi-
lively announced the German public Will have to con.
tent itself with meditatng upon the suggestions of
wagncrs last letter. These have already occasioEed
no little bewilderment among the daily newspapers.
Never having taken the trouble TO consult Wagner's
writings, his hostile critics have been accustomed
ner worship. the erection Of which was prompted by
the composers love OF seli-giorIhcation IL
has caused them n" little surprise, therefore,
| at nothing less than an Improvement or
tho quality of dramatic representation through
out the entire nation. Tho attempt to reconcile this
new discovery with the criticisms formerly advanced
has led to not few amusing exhibitions. The Vienna
papers, Tor example, guided in their hostility by the
| irst OF superficial critics, Edward Hanslck, meet
Wagner's circular with tho exclamation, "What sort
| OF a composer can this bey Beethoven and Mozart
never wanted any special theatres and subsidies ior
| their music. "
| THE LACK or GENIUS.
This reminds mo OF similar attempt to prove
| Wagper's lack OF genius which German critic
| seriously advanced lew weeks ago Raphael the
writer said, never walked in the streets OF Florence
| but crowds followed him ana mothers struggled t.
have HIM kiss their babies but has this been the
case with WagnerY Such method OF argument DO
trays the bitches imbecilty into which tho oppoi
tion to Wagner mas fallen IL Is very mucn as though
one should try 10 prove that given writer could no
pos sby be "A poet he had never been, like shake
spcarc arrested Tor deer stealing Tho French papers
have also had their ling tho Wagner circular, and
should not be doing credit to the persis'cncy witl
| I-..I.A In on