Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1889-09-19
wAGNER'S OPERA-HOUSE


Bayreuth, where Wagner built his
great festival theater, and where he
supervised the production of the works
of his mature genius, is quaint, rus
tic little town in Bavaria, on the left
bank of the Red Main. There are
three palaces in the town. The Her
mitage palace is fanciful building,
where Frederick the Great and his sis
ter, the Margarine of Bayreuth, re-
sided. An excellent bronze statue OF
Jean Paul Richter. the philosopher,
who died and was buried in Bayreuth
in 1925, is in the gymnasiumplatz, and
an inscription in gold letters marks
his house. 1t is picturesque little
town, with population of about TO-
600. The quietness of the place was
probably its chief attraction for Wag-
ner, and it was here that he saw the
completion of his life's work. He
had long been possessed OF desire to
have an opera-house of his own. where
his works could be produced under his
personal direction. He wished to have
the four operas comprising the great
Nibelungen Tetralogy rendered to his
own satisfaction, and he would not en-
terrain the idea of having them pro-
duced anywhere but in an opera-house
of his own.
The cornerstone of Wagner's OPP
era-House was laid in 1872 and was
completed in 1876, when the first
festival took place. The theater
occupies billy site within easy walk
ing distance of the heart of the town.
1t is built of brick, and the architect
ure is severely plain. The interior is
remarkable for its simplicity. 1t will
accommodate about one thousand four
hundred persons. There is no attempt
at ornamentation, and this is in
accordance with Wagner's idea that
there should be nothing in theater
to distract attention from what is
taking place on the stage.
There are no proscenium boxes, no
visible footlights or orchestra, no
prompter's hood. Those who are
accustomed only to the distracting
architectural accessories of an
ordinary theater can hardly conceive,
perhaps, how greatly the effect of any
scene is enhanced by its thus being,
SO to speak, the only thing in sight.
And in a house so built no one can dc
aught but look and listen to what is
on the boards. 1t is not show place
for the audience, but darkened hall,
whittier the audience comes for the
sake OF the opera alone
The musicians sit in kind OF q
''moat'' which runs across the theater
between the stage and the audience,
and they are entirely hidden from
view. This concealment of the Or
chestra is an equally fortunate ar
rangement. The power of the music
is increased by its thus seeming the
work of invisible agents, instead Of
piping, putting gentleman in non
dramatic garb. AND the whole vol
ume of sound comes to the ear with
far more unity ana precision of effect
The stage is one hundred feet wide
by one hundred and three feet in
depth. Back of this is another stage
of fifty feet in length that is only uset
on extraordinary occasions. The
scenic arrangements, as is necessary
in the production of Wagner's operas
are probably the finest in the world
Many novel effects are introduced
For instance, in 'Parsifal," the ole
knight and the boy Parsifal appear tt
be walking through deep forest t.
the castle of Montslavat But in re
atty it is the scenery that is moving
past them. sometimes entirely hiding
them from view, and they are finall,
seen to emerge from the wood ant
the grand hall of the castle, although
they have not once left the stage. Tn,
shifting is marvelously well done ant
the illusion is complete.
Lovers of music from all over tn,
world assemble at Bayreuth during
the summer to hear Wagner's operas
The price of seats Is twenty marks, o.
five dollars each. regardless of loca
ton. so those who apply first get tn
best seats. There are usually fourtee,
or sixteen performances, spreadin.
over a period of four or five weeks
The performance begins at half-pas
-four in the afternoon and continue
until half-past ten, with two intermis
sions OF an hour each, during whicl
the audience leaves the house an
walks around the spacious gardens o
dimes at the nearby restaurant Whe
the tetralogy is given the Performance
lasts for four days, one opera eac
night-N. Y. Mail and Express.
Not a Silent Partner.
s.Tohn - said q fond wife ne eh