New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-08-18
"PARSIFAL."
WAGNER, HIS WIFE AND HIS LAST GREAT
OPERA.

was c,ven vesterdav-the fourth, counting
the two nrivate performances last week for
the paironGts. Again 1t raned. MOI once
has the sun shone on Parsifal," and the mud ana
tine dr,zzle and the cold made 1t very dismal
during the long waits of an hour EACH when every
body is supposed to spend the time enjoying the
really fine view and lunching on the restaurant We
randas or stroling about out OF doors. There was
curious commnglng last night OF fur eloaks anu
white opera dresses in the audience. 1t was not
very brilliant audience to look upon. The con-
tinued week of rain has put all idea Of festival
out of mind and tcket-holders yesterday went re-
hgiously TO the theatre, but not caring
much what they wore if it was
only warm winter clothing 1t would have been
simple enough to put up awnings and to cover the
muddy pathways with planks. but that seemed 10
occur 10 nobody, and waded through the wet a.
best we could and felt anything but festive Ihey
know nothing here about making strangers CON-
Portable. 1t Is like November, but the warmth OF
fire Is not to be had, and we are threatened Win
starvation if we remain here long. OUTSIDE Oh
Wagners theatre and the Wagner household. there
is nothing ! can find TO attract stranger To
Bayreuth and the most miserable living is mere
during the Bdhnsnfstspiel as expensive as the very
best in New-York City. Yesterday we looked al
rooms in what would be n fourth-rate hotel III
America, and charged 81 each person
for the night and lights gas aud service extra
This il Bavaria is simply enormous. The
result is that. having the opera
twice, we leave town as quickly as possible, as do
all visitors here who speak the English tongue. 1t
is q repetition of the foollshness of 1t is 80 III
every quarter of the globe where many people are
attracted 1t would seem the best reason IN the
world for treating fairly that we come from so
far and do not readily forgive imposition under
such circumstances; so In company with many
Others who came here TO remain awhile, we turn our
backs upon these specializing natives.
Inside the theatre we rise above hunger and cold.
and the hourly strife outside with coachmen and ser
wants who would reduce us to poverty were we to
comply with their demands for trinkged. Each rep
resentation goes smoothly than the
one before, and it IS surely the perfection
of opera Wagner, who never has expressed
complete satisfaction with his work, say
" With Parsfal am content" He certainly looks
a proud and happy man when every night the ex-
cited audience bring him TO the front of his box
and insist upon a few words. His resemblance at
these times to Judge Bla;chford is very striking
and is often remarked upon by Americans. All the
boxes are at the rear of the house and the audience
after each act. at reverses IT'S If, and II has
come TO be a part of the programme to turn around
and shout " Wagner the moment the curtain falls.
These Germans amuse me. They are 80 wildly en-
thusiastic and similarly demonstraive on differ
ent occasions. Last night | heard one OF the
greatest living musicians cry, UuRderschOH! baR-
d,rscbGn :" as the curtain dropped. He stood with
clasped hands and rapt face for time repeat
M the word Later. l saw him at restaurant in
The same position the rapture III his face as If
carried out of himself and again saying " y under
sch6nl Uundrsch6R!" this time over a plate of
sausage he was recommending to a friend.
1t goes without saving that where there is har
mony there is always lack of harmony, and thai
YOU may always look for disoord among sweet
sounds 1t would seem that the noble the
music the more intense the ealousies and quarrels
The air is full Of stories which are not worth re-
heating, but prove how envious and dsagreeabe
musicians can he. Quarrels in church choirs
uroyerblaiN petty, but in these high musical cir
cles they are really. sublime aud constructed on
most ingenious principles. Let me write only that
the report, and similar reports that smallpox had
appeared at Bayreuth, had no foundation what
ever. save III the musical brain OF an enemy to
Wagner.
On the train coming hither we met Bayreuth
lady fired with pleasant curiosity. She Piled Us
with questions. She said, "Ach Colt" when she
found that two Of us came all the way from Cali
fornla TO see parsfaL" She was neignbOT and
an acquaintance OF frau Wagner. We in turn
questioned her, " DO they very much like Wagner
~ Bayreuth !" asked. She shrugged her
shoulders and said Some few would fight TO
the death for him, Others laugh, and there iSaways
discussion. The mass Of townspeople, who know
nothing of music, wonder at him and think of him
only as man who has somehow done something
wonderful 80 that he can no longer sleep in bed
unless 1t draped with satin. But they understand
very well that through HIM much money comes t.
their pockets aud much eclqt TO the town"
Sine told Inc that Frau Wagner had invited her to
witness the "Nebelungen Ring" was sick IL bed
TWO DAYS after that" she said plamtively. Then
they told her it not until the second representa-
ton that one enjoyed Wagner opera, so she went
again and that time I i'll four days in bed.
60 10 no more Waqner's operas. neither do my
neighbors, for they make us i'll: but We like Frau
Wagner and she is good 10 the church. She was a
delightful old GOSSIP and we let her go on. She told
us how Madame Wagner recently had embroidered
for the altar a wonderful carpet and how regularly
she took her children (Bulow's children to service
there, and how strictly she educated them; how
suoerby she dressed always in silk, that she might
INSPIRE" her husband, who required that even her
white garments should be of silk, and our friend
Daively disclosed family economy, by stating that
Madape's white SATIN morning dresses were finally
dyed and converted into bed draperies. She touched
upon the mystery Of the Wagner marriage, " which
nobody in Bayreuth could ever learn anything
about" and told US how Hans Won Buow was COM
ing with his wife, the German actress. 10 see
"Parsifal," for he was no enemy to Wagner. Prac-
tice at the " Kaffee klatsch" makes the German
frau the most adept gossip in the world. These
highly interesting and elevating entertain
ments are fashionable gatherings, where every
kno thing is set out 10 be eaten, and every
mOrsel of scandal and gossip is discussed. 1t Is
strictly feminine conclave and man is the sub
ject of discussion. Each woman knits, which bet