New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-05-22
MUSICAL COMMENT.
RECENTLY PUBLISHED WAGEER1ANA.
WAGNER AS REvoLUTIoNIsT AND voLUPTUARY

Two books widely different in character vet equally
valuable to the student Of Wagner, have recently ap
pcarcd In Edglish The first in the field was Ferd
nand Treager-s Wagner Know Him." published by
| Iongmans Green IL Co.. Of London and New-forK' 'he
second is translation OF the sumptuous French "orH
| by Adolph Jullion. which In its original form mas
| been before the world for six years. Tie Enghsh
version Of this striking biography has Just come roni
| the press OF the j. b. Millct Company, OF BOSTON,
! II IS an edition de luxe. which reproduces faith
fully all the distinguishing features Of the original
and even adds several portraits to the Frenchmahs
list The edition is limited 10 1000 copies ana y "
be sold only BY subscription mt the price oil Slo l"I
| the two volumes, the work having been sepafa'eo
into two volumes for the sake OF convenience III
| handling Inasmuch as Monsieur Juiens book Is far
and away the most attractive biography of Rchara
Wagner that has yet been issued, description vi IL
canno, he amis speaking first Of its lctcrprcs>' IL
l. a critical biography written ia an exceedingly
| snriphtIy and entertaining vein by OF the mo9'
distinguished of French writer's on muslc, whose ,"
lection OF material is vast that he mas Dc'h "p
70 add very considerably TO the knowledge even Va
those who have read the German biographies. u
T. written from the point OF view Of an cntlislas'o
,dmrer of Wagners artistic principles ana phcuoo
and u calm and discriminating Judge Oh MS pe'so"'i
character The story Of the poet composers iic -
told with ample fulncss and not only MS uiann"o O'
also his literary productions arc dcscroeu ana "''
With fine insight into his intentions and methods. Oon
tors vvben German things are concerned the accuracy
y, " JuIIien Is deserving OF all praise lew SIPS
there are, in the rehearsal OF the stofies VI '
dramas but they trifling and DO not emoarr'i'
6Is exposton OF the ethical and poeticai contents VI
the works Finally the bocrapher sums up uie per
onol and artistic clements OF his subject In style
Tint l. simply mascrful in its comprehensveness ana
,rror,i,ltv and as fascinating as romance
rhrouobout the work IS that Of most serious minded
music lover who while not denying the innings "h0.
belong to his nationality. Is so far removed from all
Chouvnsm that he does not hesitate to sconrge mer
clc,sly the artistic foies Of his people not sparihs
even Bcrloz OF whom nevertheless he Is an apprecl
alive admlrcr.
INT the unique and Instructive features OF 'he "orH
nre not confined to the letter press. VI Julien WI"
collector OF Illustrations In connection with MS SUP
loo, and the English reproduction gives fourteen I'm
IRRESPONSIBLE sketches by VI. Fautin Latour hfeeh POI
traits covering almost the whole OF Wagners ar'ia,o
career reproductions OF illustrations puDiSheu a' o
fine the various dramas were first periorheu' '"'
.imc, Of autographs, and large number OF caetueS
rcprodnced from German. French and English come
journals Of tho composers storm ana su'o'
pcrlod These carcaturcs. indeed are one
~ tbe most fascinating features OF the bolh
and have been introduced for serious
pu, pose Nothing shows - well as the cir1catuie'
avs NJ Julien. (which instantly attracts the eye
what change has taken place in public opinion con
Richard wagner. c.''u 'iV '''''"N'N
the light OF n historic document 1t may be men
,ircd In nos,ipc that the calicatuNs Of which use
ar. mad. were drawn from the collections OF NJ Johh
Grand arter,t author OF history Of this Sitiri'al
art (ho We believe. has just issued. or IS about ID
l.sue a work or Wagner in carcature) ana icrr f.
Kas,ner the wJllnown Wignerlan Collector ii
Vienna Tho English version made by Florence
percval Hall and supplied with an INTRODUCTION os
4. J. Lang Concerning the translation little heea Dc
said ON the whole It Is fluent and correct though
there ar, evidences Of unfainilarliy with wagner
work, and foreign musica! tcrminology To the work
81 NJ Julien a list Of Wagner's works ana an hdeA
have been added for which features every student VIII
he grateful. Richard Wagner: His Life ana WORKS
arncars in two royal octave volumes, bound In cloth
vim paper sides bearing an artistic design. and in
ca.ed I'm a box. The edition. as has been stated. Is
limited to 900 copies and the right to Increase the
prize il reserved.
Ferdinand PIacgcr's "wagncr az Knew Him. Il
the account ~ one who for whole generation was
the foremost champion Of the dramatic rcforner III
England, and who was drawn toward him by personal
a. we'll As artistic ties Pracger was born in LeipSic
vhen, hi, father WI, conductor OF the Gcwandhaus
concerts tvs, years after Wagner. Their acquaintance
which ripcn,h into the warme,t friendship began IN
carly manhood and II was at praecers instance that
Wagner WI, engaged f. conduct the London fhlii'ar
monte -o,iotvs concerts In 1853. Naturally. there
fore one ~ his most valuable contributions 10 the NE
OF 1,
don during that period Of the most useful chap
ter, If NJ julien, book Is the story Of the Tam
laol,serr na,cO I'm 1861. Mr. PIaeecr. who lived IN
Eglind over atty years aud died before seeing MS
book in print. wrote under the inspiration OF great
affection as well as artistic admiration nevertheless
he had strong 81 justice and his book VIII hcp
more 70 a correct estimate Of tho man Wagner than
ANYTHING that has yet been printed II he sets down
nothing I'm malice neither does lie extennatc through
friend ship NJ Julien point, ont many Inconsistencies
In tho moral character Of his hero but nothing tina; he
Is abb. 10 cite (, damaging Mr. haegers alraisn-
mcnt Of tho cowaIdcc displayed By Wagner In con
ncctlon with hi, political career. Physically Wagner
was not a brave man. but We do not allude 10 that
now Behind the barricldcs in Dresden during the
revolutionary uprising In which he was concerned. he
seems 10 have done all that could have been expected
Of him his cowardce displayed itself afteward when.
a, an exile he began 10 long for the neshpots Of
popularity and advantage which he had sacrificed
through devotion 10 political principle. Ever there
after he tried to bctle the part which he had
played in the revolution. and one NAV hunt in vain
through the eleven volumes Of his collected writings
for the paper on The Abolition OF the Monarchy
which he read before the Fathcrand Union in 1s4s
hi treatment Of his friend Roeckel. moreover. was
shameful I'm TIE extreme and this whole episode In his
He Chat H. all Of his dcingS after his flight from
Drcsdcnl can only DO looked upon q blot on
his character that can never be clIaced. Pracgers
chapter Is the full and fair exposition OF Wayher
political career that has been published IL Is oi
incstimal,c value to those who wish To know all OF
the man Wagner The spirit in which II Is written
may be judged from the following words In his summing
up
"pcrhaps should not Judge harNhy In this matter
he had suffered much and there were not wanting,
and fear II be said there are still not wanting
those who speak In ungcncrous. malignant tones about
e court conductor being false his oath of allegiance
Of the demasoguc luAniating in the wealth OF
ROYAL patron Wagners art popularity was Increasing,
and his muslcdramas gradually forcing them
selves upon the stage and he did not wish his chance
Of success To be marrcd by the everlasting silly
and spcful references to the rcvolutonst. But
whether he Justified In writing he did. In