Morning journal and courier., 1883-11-10
An IdeaIeTheatre.

Dream of Converting a London Suburb
 Into a Colony of Skilled Music1nnG-
 What Might be Accomplished with a
 Million POands Sterling & Year.
 IL. Marker, in the Musical Standard
 I amuse myself sometimes in the sleepless hours of night, when the simpler devices of counting of flock sheep leaping over stiIe, or saying the alphabet backwards, fail to bring the sweet god of forgetfulness, by pie turing to myself what would do if I had a great fortune, till presently fall into kind of waking dream, which usually takes some thing like the following shape:
 I have been left comfortable competency of million year safely resulting from a re- spectable investment in government three per cents. I very naturally ask myself what l can do with the money ss as to secure the greatest enjoyment for myself coupled with 8 certain amount of good to my fellow men. As I am musician, it equally naturally fol lows that determine to endow a musical in- stitution, and as am Wagnerian pur sang, the form that institution takes is theatre on strict Wagnerian principals, where. however, not only the masters works, but really great operas of all other schools, shall be per- formed, totally regardless of expense, In strict and reverend accord with the intentions of their creators. To this end the first ob- ieot is the building. This Is to be erected on 8 gentle eminence which rears it's modest head close to Sherborne, for Sherborne pre- sents many advantages which even Bayreuth cannot boast of. It is but three hours from London; 1t lies on the main line of the South western railway, so that all who care to come to my performances can get here easily; the hotel accommodation is good, but of that I cannot speak more particularly lest be &C., cused of insinuating cheap advertisement into these widely read columns. But tho main thing in it's favor is that the inhabitants of J.-. IT fa1Er
 are passionately fond Of music and are also very proud of all their town institutions: witness the noble abbey, the Town Hall and the Digby Memorial Hall, which latter has not been built yet, but Is vastly talked about. Here, then, on this pleasing eminence, will erect noble theatre that shall in all it's es sentials conform strictly to the Bayreuth original, while in it's details, and especially in the materials of which 1t is built, 1t will far transcend it's prototype. Everything about it is to be massive and rich, but nothing gaudy or luxurious; indeed, tho ornamental acces- sories shall be confined mainly to the exte- Iior, which cannot be too handsome. The auditorium, on the other hand, Is to be left as plain as possible. having regard to the strict requirements of good taste only. Noth- ing meretricious, nothing that shall for q moment attract the eye from the stage shall find any tolerance. The stage, indeed, is to be the main object of the whole building, and on 1t all that modern engineering skill, all that modern art and science are capable of, shall ba freely lavished. The mechanical ar engagements are to be as nearly perfect as any, thing huznGn can be, and rely upon electric ity not only for illumination but for many other aids undreamt of even by Wagner. The scenery is to be entirely under the con- troI of the pronlpter, so that the most eIab- crate sets can be removed and others equally elaborate put in their place merely by touch ing 8 knob,-and all instantaneously and noiseIessiy. Such thing as carpenters scene will be quite unknown on the other hand, by calling in the assistance Of the very greatest artists only, hope to produce pic lures in s'Parsifal' and the 'Nibelungen' such as the widest idealisln must be content with. I calculate that for about e25O, 900 ought to get the kind of building 1 want but of course l am prepared to go to any further sum that may be needed. Grouped round my theater there wili be small city of tasteful detached houses, in which all my artists will live, each receiving 8 hogas and garden suited to his wants rent free. And this brings me to the most elaborate and costly part of my aoheme-though money is really no object whateyer-tAe constitution and maintenanee of my personnel. My or ehestra (the most important part of any op- cratic establishment, though 1t has not hith- erto been recognized as such) will consist of about twenty-five first and twenty-five second violins, twenty violas. twenty 'celIos and twenty five passes, of which twelve will use the four stringed instruments. There will also be two contra double bassea of thirty two feet tone, six autes, four oboes, four olarionets, tive bass clarionets, two corno in- glese, four bassoons, two contra bassoons, six harps, eight hoFns six trumpets, eight tromhones, two serpents, two tubas two sets of kettle-drums (three in each set), big drum and cymbals, triangle, tam-tsm, etc., making with extras respectable total of, say, ane hundred and eighty perfernlers for the or chestra before the stage Hut, of course, shall have splendid organ on the stage aud 8 complete military band, 50 that the total may reasonably be placed at two hundred and forty members. These will receive liberal salary, graduated upon ths impor- tsnce of their various instruments and also upon their own individual merits. hut m member of my orchestra shall receive less than $500 year, which, with house rent free, coal and gas and no taxes {inooue tax being paid by mel ought to enable him to live like gentleman. Indeed, very impor- tant qualifications for membership in my er- eheetra will be gentlemanliness of behavior, generous instinct for art and the loftiest moral tone. On the stage the establishment will consist of fifty picked artiats of the highest calibre, not including, however, stars of such prodisiogs vocal powers as to absorb OA 2sbSGSEoA3 anu D ChE0- fully chosen chorus of one hundred and fifty voices. These shall also receive salaries be ginning at $500, with the same privileges in the way of house rent, etc., as the orchestra. shall altogether expect to have @ pleasant little salary list of about e5O0, coo of &60O,- 900 year but in return 9or that I shall have gathered together such body of artists as win be quite unmatched. While the thea ire and the city are being built this great phalanx will be set to work studying some of the first works of our future repertoire and getting acquainted with each otheS. When the theatre is ready what a festival VIC shall have st the opening! Imagine the sight There Qn the pleasing hill will tower the lof- ty edifoe, standing alone on 8 fair lawn set about with flowers and fountains and an- preached by gently sloping ,carTiape drives. Round it, in 8 semi circle, clgster the pretty villas of the artis.s There will De no church because the various places of worship in Sherborne will amply suffics for all our needs Als there will be special school in which every form of useful knowledge will be taught, including music, both theoretical atd practical. Imagine the beautiful town, in which architecture shall be encouraged to display it's 2airest forms, even on the hum- bIest huildipg. so that it shall be model for all the world. swarming with bright-faced ar- tists, safe from all anxiety q need not say