The New York herald., 1877-03-01
w AG N f r.
This Years Performances of the
Ring of the Nibelungs."
GERMAN GOVERNMENT SUPPORT.
A Letter from Richard Wagaer-SlngerS Tor
the Forthcoming Performances.
MUNICH. Feb. s. 1877.

1 rocovcd
letter which he recently addressed to tho Directors OF
the Richard Wagner Societies" As Is the hrst authen
Tic declaration of his with regard to future
festivals at Baireuth ii Will be received with univer
gal interest and have taken the trouble 10 translate
1t as follows:-
wAcyER's ADDRESS
cat the close oi the last year performances a bar
reuh could not but find IN the pleasing impression
which the festival had made upon the Prcat majority
OF the public a most encouraging incentive to repe.
tition and continuance OF what had begun. But ~
did not escape me, on the other hand, tnat IL
the original character oi my una, nnaer'an,ns mans
fresh endcavors to strengthen anew the purposes
which had governed It's foundation the external sue
cess OF the performances happily conluting IN their
proeress the discouragng reports which at first were
spread by influential part OF the press was 50 un-
mstakabe that TO cnterprising Spectator their
immediate and continued repcttor might have proved
a source OF no inconsiderable gain. what prevented
such repetition not only the impossblity oil de-
tanning the who took part in them any longer IN
Bareuth, but also the reflection, which iorced tseH
upon me- that by thus prolerrg our abors 10 merely
having pubic should DO rcnouncing utterly those
aims when | had originally promised my patrons 10
uphold. This same reflection leads me now TO hesitate
To announce publicly repetition OF the festival Tor
This year. ana To invite your attendance by Offering
tickets OF admission at n certain price
wAGNER's ARTISTIC AIMS
.sFor the explanation of my hesitation refer TO the
words of my first Address the friends OF my art,
Alter had there explicitly defined the character OF
my undertaking. | appealed Tor the means OF carrying
II into execution solely TO the friends o my art ana to
such us might feel voluntarily impeIed 10 aid me In
the co operaiion which shortly proved It's sincerity
by aordng means for the inauguration, as wei us
Tor the execution OF my plans was conducted
But if IL was my thus 10 be satisfied neverthe-
less found myself also nnay compelled by the stress
OF new circumstances TO address myse'i 10 inc
curiosity the public in general and offer tickets OF
admission lor sale. Hence botn my work ana the
artists, who with the utmost unselishness devoted
their powers to It's performances, were put INTO that
false position OF publicity III which both had equally
TO suffer Hence also arose the MISUNDERSTANDING hnt
/ was trying TO thrust my work and the style OF It's
per furmn
general; whereas on the contrary, my purpose, as
Rad definitely explained It, set forth clearly its
single aim the presentation OF my work to those VINO
were It's supporters and well wishcrs.
Excluding THE scoFFERs
81 think, therefore, that must now return 10 the
strict limits of original intention, snco II Is I'M
possible for any longer to sllow The proper ana
true supporters OF my undertaking to be put into inc
most aggravating position by tnose whom only INC
purpose OF disturbing my work ana lis Impression
less than to my artists, whom sought both IN the
tendencies OF their acting and IN their whole relation
TO the public to lead nto sphere oil artistic per-
ormance IN which they might rise ABOVE the abuses
of our common operatic representations. AT
present, however, we have only taken inc
nrst slcp IN the formation of tins new style;
on every side deiccncics to be made up, and I'M
pcrIections (Which must necessarily CHING to an Under
iaklng at once so novel and so unusually compexl 10
be sInoolhed away. But this exercise, which hope
will be iui ol most important consequences LOT Ger
theatrical art, should not be made IN Tue presence
OF spectators whose understanding is hampered by
hostility On the contrary, we must be certain Tint
we in the presence oil those who are one with US
lish the only efficient school for dramatico-musical
impersonaton, which attempts from other quarters
and by different means, but always without success,
have been made to found
THE PROPOSED SOCIETIES
'My aims in this direction have been from the outset
rightly appreciated by those men who IN consequence
oil my first appeal PROCEEDED forthwith 10 establish
Tor the promotion Of it's OBJECT II these so-
ciees since they did comprise the weathiest por
tion of the public, could not supply the material sup.
port necessary attain the ultimate aims OF the under
taxing they constituted nevertheless by the clearly
cd a
The enterprise. To these hitherto active societies,
therefore, now turn IN The desire TO see issued TO the
friends large OF my art Call Tor the formation OF
Society o Patrons (Paronat-V Veren) Tor the Charge
and Maintenance OF the Stage Festivals In Bal
rcuth.' BY the name give his society l mean
to indicate tho whole utility 1t is designed 10 per-
form. This Will longer have to extend,
Ike the previous cooperation OF my patrons,
TO the foundation OF the entire undertaking by the
erection OF theatre and the furnishing OF tho
scenic necessarics, but TO insuing repetilons con-
tinued annually and ampliGed III the sense which
have elsewhere definitely Indicated. In accordance
with plan the details OF winch remain TO be agreed
upon this society would have TO take, at 100
marks each 1920, 1000 seats for each OF the three
annual performances and such seats would be con-
signed only TO who in accordance with the regu
atons of the society," had been admitted 10 It's Inc m
bershlp
MUSIC AND THE POOR.
at has, however always been my intention to give
number free seats to those who lacked the means
OF paying lor them, especially 10 young men OF IN.
dusiry and promise. AS tho besowai OF these tickets
would he attended with great difficulty, through the
selection Of those deserving the distinction, the matter
night be made appropriate ana desirable means ol
,iening relations with the highest authorities OF the
State. Already In my earliest COMMUNICATIONS l
designated the ultimate operation OF the
state acthorities the rcwarding success which
expected and bespoke, should
have succeeded through the first performances OF my
work. in setting in clear light tue SPECIAL character
Of my artistic aims and OF the undertaking louuded
upon them. ii, then, l may hope that equally with
Frenchmen. Engishinen ard Americans who have cx
pressed definitely clearly their correct understand
ing OF The significance of my labors intelligent men oil
the German nation are also capable, by their own
showing, of like appreciation, would now venture
actually to claim my success; and, IN conformity
Herewith should be glad to commit 10 the proposed
General society Patrons the olce OF applying 10 tnt
German Parliament Tor liberal support OF the annua
stage icsiivas This donaton, IN order TO he success
ful would have 10 reach the yearly sum OF 100, COG
marks. With this gum the corresponding number o
would be purchased and distributed under state
supervision tree of charge 10 those deserving the DIS
Through this measure would also Oe realized
In the most efficient manner the project OF giving the
whole undertaking. TO It's great honor national char
acter: and thus for the first time theatrical insttu
tion would receive the stamp OF national importance
even IN reference 10 It's management For by the ac
ceptance OF this plan the state authorities would win
interest In tue earnest preservation oil the original
character--elsewhere sufficiently specited-of this
unique theatrical Institution, with them IT must
rest know that its management rs Kept free IRON
mobeymaking speculaons aud directed solely 10 the
end Of fostering the declared artistic aims 1t would
lead me far take into consideration in this place
plans for the future execution OF this suggestion,
peciay all things relating TO II are matters which
those who have at heart only the cause itsel and not
any personal advantage, VIII quickly and easily ar
range. That the hrst steps may before long be taken
perhaps through convention OF delegates from th,
Societies, rs my earnest wish, TO suggest which has
been the occasion OF my addressing This commun ca
ton to the honored directors OF the hitherto existing
Wagner societies. RICHARD WAGNER
wAGSER's
II this letter contains suggestions which those bes
acquainted with the resources and inclnaons OF th'
government scarcely hope 10 see realized
IT is none the less perfect harmony with the ultimate
aims which Wagner always cherished The earlies
all ho lnfp con
vinced him tnat their adequate performance was no
10 be expected upon any ordinary stage. This was
because the demand Tor variety and beauty Of sccncr
exceeded the OF the best theatres, but be
cause the entirely novel character OF his works re
quircs a style OF performance which Is totally at var
anco with all established opcratc traditions For NOR
than 200 years the opera has been scarcely NOR
than a protext for the sustained display OF th
voices of the singers, and The llbreto has mad n