The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1883-03-04
WAGNER m PARxA

PARIS, Feb. 16.-In the Christmas piece
recently played at the Varieties Theatre. the
actor Baron represented fanatical Wagnerian
who had Just arrived from Bayreuth. He meets
the actor Cooper. who tnkes out his snun box
and proceeds to unscrew tho saueakng I'D
"Ah! sublimei" exclaims Baron. enchanted
Then you know the score OF 'Parsifalr
'ParsifalT" Yes. YOU have just begun to
play the overture" Cooper. in his astonish-
ment. blows his nose noisily. Why. you know
all 'Parsiiaiv" says Baron. You have just
played the entry OF the Queen! How exauis-
ito!" Those Jokes and the courlet on the music
OF the future formed one OF the great points IN
the piece. In 1861. the year OF tho performance
and OF tho fall Of "Tnnnhhuser " ut the Opera.
the Parisians invented n verb tahnhduse,. OF
the first conjuGation; 1t meant simply to
bore person with a lot OF useless vcr-
biage without arriving ut practical con-
ciusion The previous year. when Wagner
had given selection OF his works in con-
cert at the Theatre ltalicn. Fiorentino. tho
celebrated critic Of the Constit,tionnei was very
severe toward the musician Of the future. upon
whose personal appearance he dwelt rather
than upon his music. Wagner" he said.
looks like n notary in the execution OF his
functions His physioGnomy is intelligent: his
air little stiff and starchy; the lower part OF
his face is retreating and vulgar: tho forehead
fine. noble md high 1t would seem rs II two
fairies had presided at his birth-the ono angry.
the other Kind and afrectonate. The fairy OF
harmony caresscd and bcautifed tho brow
from which so many bold conceptions and
strong thoughts were destined to issue; the
fairy Of melody. foroseeing the harm that this
child would do her sat on his face and Gattencd
his nose" The next day all Paris repeated tho
mot. and Wagner was Judged. In the modern
Richard Wagner first cnmo to Paris in 1Sil.
He was then IS years OF age. His early COM
positions. Tho Fairies" written at wur4-
burg whom he was 90. and the Novice OF
Palermo: or, tho Defence Of Love" taken from
Measure for Measure" and played at Magde-
bourg In 1896. had had no success. Wagner
while astruggling bandmastcr at MnGdeburg
had married his first wife. Wilhelmina Plancr
and n crcly augmented his embarrassment. For
four years no had lived wretchedly as band
, master successfully Mt K6nigsberg. Dresden
and Riga. Finally. his engagement at Riga
being at an end, he had determined to tempt
fortune at raria. and embarked for London
with his wife. his manuscripts. and big dog.
From London no crossed over to Boulogne.
| where no had tho good fortune to meet Never
beer. his compntriot who give him letters Of
introduction to some musical celebrities in
Paris. including the manager Of the Opera.
Leon rilet. and the publisher SchIesi in
ger. Wagner installed himself with his
Ss and n' R s"F la ssfs Sai i
| Central Market, and began to work at Rienz!."
which he had already begun at Rlgn. and at The
live. and, In order to earn his daily bread he
became the proofrsadcr of Brnndus. the music
de chypre lie Guitarsro" and La Favor c
itn;,, iniprovised ARRANGEMENTS OF popular airs
| for the Hozetfe DE NlsiQne and WAS reduced
even 50 low that he undertook to write the
music, ~ The way. tho Lender Of tho orchestra
aR ensi" and had gwen him sioo for the the
n e, h Tss s Shn w wss sy r
ut tho Opera in November, 1912 with music by
p'e!sch: Kienzii' was accepted by iAnten no.
theatre failed before the, rchearsals began.
During this first x'sit to Paris WasnsT wrote
Chnntcnrs." and in. his summer retreat at a
bai r. M anS aee ee q b tbr
Christ TOPPER Columbus. which was performed
at an obscure concert given by the 1ds~t,e M"si-
e!faiure, Wagner left Paris in 1912 and returned
% Germany. His sincerc friend. Name; Scnroe-
and the success was such that Wagner was ap-
pointed CapeI!meister of the King OF .Saxony
, anu l"nder OF inc orchestra OF the Imperial
From the end S Of 1912 onward wasncr'- fame
in Germany went on. 2n inGhrsnsinG The "Phan;
successfully. and "Lohcngrin" wa, nearly i'm.
ishsd wnep ths political disturbances Of lsis
revolutionary. fought behind The tbarricades Al
Dresden. and was obliged to fly. His great ad
mTnirer the Abb List, gave him hospi,ality. Al
worry briei stay decided 10 settle at Zurich
where he p9blishe;d. his hi ramphet Art and
rs n reinrmer OF the modern lyric thentrc.
In 1922 We a%aln lind Wagner at Paris, but
recognized musician, On the occasion 81 the
meeting of the two Emperors at Stuttgart ~
1851 TannhaMse1", had been perfoirmrcd and
! II was known that the whole German nation
had sauted the COMPOSER as II man OF grniu.
that the Abhe List had adopted his opinions
with ardor: in the French musical press there
subject OF the wsEnerian theories. and Waw
u" i.adcrship Of Champieury, Iapdelaire. and
| Gourmet tho painter. with the idea that WnGner's
music wns tho maniftstat on In music OF the
theories OF realism which they. protested in lit.
Paris IN 1860 all the conditions necessary fol
an artistic battle-a battle such a, had rngrd
fH 9!;'lit between the roman!icists and the
fury, II Is true, between the naturnlists and the
i.lenlists, or Academic writer's, The maestro
whore no had brilliant "Wednesday receptions
nnd became moro or less the talk Of the town
1t was at this momen: that Baudclairc was pre-.
scented TO- tho maestro whom he so much al
mir"d. Wagner received him very cracio,sly
He was clad in thick blue dressing gown. He
sat down to tha piano and played n fragment
which !clairc found sublime. Wagner then
rose, passed into his bedroom. and returned
wearing II yellow dressing gown. in which he
went on playing for n. good hour Then he
Disappeared again. ard returned wearing q
green dressing gown: Baud"laire was enthusi-
hstic. is superb. splendid" he said tt
Wagner; but permit mo Ia AJAX you lues-
ten I So" that you take care TO rlay tn,
different pieces IN dressing gowns of diiiercn,
colors. II Is. presume, in order 10 indicate
The dlfI"ren, tonalities'' Wagner looked al
Bande airc to see if he was serious. and then
repi"d: No. no: | changed nv dressing
gown because the FIRST one was "A winter gown
because the second became too hot: because
when play get covered with swea.i'' Bau-
delairc mad forgotten that Wagner was NOR
tai after all
This time Wagner determined to give battle
to the Parisians. 50 ho hired nm orchestra and
organized u concert Mt tn" Theatre de-. Italicns
on IAN - lstn ThG nr9ga'wmne somErriset
hi lsnr. "" IrisiAn and Isnnlin md :" nhnn.