Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-08-24
NOTES OF A NOVICE
On the Wagner Festival at the Home
of the Famous Musician.
FINE PERFORMANCE OF PARSIFAL.
An American Describes the Masterpiece as
itAppeared to Him.
EXQUISITE RENDITION OF THE WORK
lcoRREsPoNDrNcr OF THE prsrArcH.l

AASSARAAo AHN Dl11VN We 4A1 VVhA
lcoRREsPoNDENcE OF THE pIsPArcH.l
BAYREUTH, BAVARIA, August 81
made an imposing entrance into Bayreuth.
had been told strike existed there among
the cabmen. so no sooner had touched the
station platform than I made a contract
with small boy to carry my bag. Lodg-
ings had been assigned me by the General
Committee of the festival, to whom, on ar
riving, paid my addresses, then started
the procession for No. II Richard Wagner
Strosse. Outside the station I found about
1000 cabs. A cab in Bayreuth is bar
ouche drawn by one or two horses, harnessed
to pole in either case, and the drivers of
about 100 of these offered, even entreated
me, to ride for "zwei mark"
But I stuck to my boy, believing my
room to be near at hand. But it wasn't.
1t was an extreme distance; my boy became
double, then triplets before proceeding half
the journey, and hanging on to him, eager
to buy, then supplant him, were a
score of his relatives. Ny bag was heavy.
At every block I would order a
halt for rest and change of position, when
my couriers would mysteriously consult to-
gether as to their probable reward. As we
advanced the populace appeared more nu-
merously at windows and doors heralding
the strange sight. 1 could not see the hu-
NOR of the situation they appeared to, for
had ridden from Nuremberg for this? But
toward noon my domicile was reached, my
train of menials dismissed, evidently pleased
with the high-grade pfennig piece gave to
each, and as later peered from the window
of my comfortable room I found the street
had resumed its wonted quiet.
THE WAGNER THEATER
and its location have been often described.
1t vas q lovely afternoon ss Joined the
throng in carriages and afoot, moving along
the avenue toward an eminence back of the
town, whereon is the ideal structure of its
kind Sf the world. The site, commanding a
wide view Of a charming valley. is most
picturesque. At o'clock 1 was to
hear "Parsifal" for the first time.
The theater. which is without
adornment, seating over ,40G people in
tiers rising one above the other, so that an
unobstructed view of the stage is to be had
by all, filed gradually, until at 4 o'clock
there were no vacant seats.
The summons to enter for the beginning
of performance, or after the long entire
acts are ended is given by posse Of trum-
peters at 10 and again at five minutes be-
fore the hour, who sound from two sides of
the first porch of the building, theme from
the ensuing act of the drama. Before note
is heard from the invisible orchestra the
house is darkened, so that reading the score
is impossible; the hustle of the audience,
which the circumstances of its gathering
make unusually interested in each other,
has ceased and utter silence awaits, the ens
trance Of the first motif of the prelude to
"Parsifal," silence, it may be remarked,
which remains unbroken during any portion
of q performance in the theater.
THE GREAT WORK AS GIVEN.
'Parsifal," on August 4, was given as
usual, under the direction of Conductor
Levi, Of Munich, with an orchestra of 108
elite of German instrumental
singers: VanDyck, Pars5al; Materna,
Keendry; Blauwaert, Geernendnz; Reich
mann, AntortaS; Liverman, Klingsor; Hob
bling, Titnel.
1t is obviously impossible at this time to
more than touch upon the philosophy that
lies at the root of "Parsital." Since
"Rienzi" was put aside and the rays of
new art dawned with ''The Flying Dutch
uduy w dkuCI oOuSub w tCdCu buc
medium of his operas and music-dramas
some lesson of existence, to engraft upon the
magic framework his inventive genius fash
ioned some eternal truth. The 'Dutchman,"
''Tannhaueser" and "Lohengrin" are so
familiar that their ethical meaning has not
escaped the thoughtful; the profounder mo.
five of ''The Ring of the Nibalung" is only
beginning to be studied with us, while
'Parsifal," the latest and ripest work of an
man, still sacred to those
who can make
A PILGRIMAGE TO BAYREUTH,
illustrate the publication of the body and
the regeneration OF the soul through strife.
"Parsifal" is the outcome of years of
thought, for Wagner's early writings tell us
of his desire to compose a work on the SUBJ
ject of Jesus of Nazareth. Wagner calls
'Parsifal'' "Buehnenweih Fest-Spiel'
(Consecrated Festival Play, and where is
there taught more impressively the divinest
truth? To hear "Parsifal" at Bavreuth is.
in effect, like discourse from some eloquent
preacher or author; here Wagner is the En-.
erson of the stage, and with his wonderful
sway of the aesthetics and the mechanics Of
his art moves him who comes within his in
huence with power and might unknown
in romance or literature.
A sketch of the drama of 'Parsifal" may
be briefly made. The holy Knights of the
Grail-from among whom came Lohengrin
to succor Elsd-guardians of the sacred
spear and the cup, are suffering
through the downfall of Anyortas. He
trusting more to physical than spiritual
strength. vainly attempts battle with King
sor, magician who defes all that is pure,
and whose domains encircle the castle of the
knights. Through the agencies of Keendry,
who is bewitched by Klingsor to serve his
evil ends, Antortas is tempted and tails.
Klingsor wrests from him the sacred spear,
and wounds him incurably. At each cele-
ment, which it is the duty Of AnVortas to
THE WOUND IN BIS SIDE
breaks out afresh. To his despairing cry
for relief, Anyortas hears a celestial voice
saying: "By pity lightened the guileless fool,
wait for him, my chosen one"
the knights, telling the story of the down.
fall of Any5rtas to two of the more youthful
brethren. He is interrupted by tumult,
when one Of the sacred swans, fatally
by an arrow, futters across
the stage, followed by a group of
amazed knights, leading the youth
full ParsJal, the slayer of the swan,
who Is unconscious of his offense.
Geernemanz, attracted by the boy. leads HIM
to the castle, whittier the knights have re-
paired, there to witness the celebration of
the holy sacrament. Pdrsfal stands mute
during the ceremony, not perceiving his
mission, and at last is thrust out by Geerne-
MANI to roam through the world, gaining
grace through experience for the high call
ing he is to fulfil. Klingsor lays snare
I'll II -
and when these fail him, Keendry, the en-
,ho nfraea IN fbo forv, IF q haautiful woman