Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1895-12-26
ROYAL OPERA.
What 1t Costs to See Grand Opera In
Germany-The Opera House.
DRESDEN, Germany, Dec. 4,

/
the opera, life in Dresden would be de-
Zig htful, especially for the student who,
after long day with his books, may have
the instructive pleasure of an evening at
the opera.
| II he chance to be q student of music,
the evening will De OF incalculable profit
to him, and no student can truthfuily
give the excuse: IL can't afford 10 go to
the OPERA Tickets for any OF Wagner
grand operas may be had for from seven
marks (s1.75) to seventy-five pfennigs 90
cents) The latter tickets allow person
standing-room in the fifth rang or
rank, while sittings may be had in this
same gallery for twenty-five cents. One
wishing to go to this part of the opera
house Will save his money, but use his
strength, for there are many steps to
climb.
The audience in the cheaper pHrtS OF
the house is respectable and attentive,
even eager to hear and see everything
for very good view of the stage can "e
had from these seats. In looking for
style and signs of wealth, one must turn
the opera G lAsses toward the parquet,
first second and third ranges, yes, even
in he fourth gallery, one can see prettily
dressed ladies. But New Yorker would
never think of speaking of the audience
as dressy one.
The opera house is a substantially built
building of stone; the interior deeora
tions are of white and gilt, and the
whole building brilliantly lighted by gas.
Even foreigners experience a home-like
feeling when entering this pretty opera
house for the first time.
Order and dignity reign supreme The
many guards in their handsome uniforms
are awe-inspiriug. No one can get pos
session of tickets until the day of the
opera, although they may he ordered in
advance Tickets ordered before II
O'Clock of the day of he opera cost fifty
pfennigs (12l2 cents more than the prices
quoted. A long line of people may be
seen every day, in an appointed place
best tickets to be had after II o'clock.
On Sundays. II the opera is very popu-
lar. one runs considerable risk of not
getting good seat in the inexpensive
parts of the house, il he waits until after
II O'Clock I o buy his ticket. The doors OF
the opera house are opened an hour be
fore the opera begins, and many tickets
are sold at this time.
One of the outer doors has very large
vestibule, and here people wait from ten
minutes TO an hour until he door is un-
locked; then they file in and rush up The
many stairs leading to the fourth and
fifth "rangs,H where, If they are carly,
they may get the best of the unnum bered
places. The holders of these tickets must
stand. if they arrive after the seats are
taken, but this Inconvenience does not
seem to trouble the music-Ioving Ger
man.
Every body, especially the foreigner,
seems pleased when any one of the royal
family graces with his presence one of
the royal boxes; it may be the first and
only chance he may have of seeing roy
atty, II hi, stay in Dresden is short. The
German man does not know what it is to
have his view of he stage obstructea by
the head-gear of the ladies hats are not
allowed.
Daring the warm weather ladies may
be seen walking or riding to The opera,
with nothing on their heads, but as the
weather grows colder bit of lace or a
small worsted affair is worn.
The promenade of ten minutes in the
foyer Is pleasant feature of the even
ing, and many avail themselves of the
opportunity to meet their friends, and
gaze at strangers The pretty dresses of
the ladies and the bright uniforms of the
officers make a beautiful picture.
The stage is large t he size is shown to
good advantage in the pretty operas,
master Singers of Nuremburg,' and
"Aida," when in some scenes there seem
to be $50 or 300 people on the stage to-
gether. The scenic effect in nearly all
the operas is beautiful, but is, of course,
secondary in contributing pleasure to the
audience who have come to listen to the
beautiful singing of Fraulein Maltin as
elizabeth" in "Tannhauser," or Frau
Witch as "Venus" in the same opera
These wonderful voices must be heard,
no matter how great the sacrifice.
In listening to the magnificent singing
OF Herr Scheidemantle, Antes ana Perron
one forgets for the moment the tears and
fears of the American home parting, and
even the dissgreeable features of the long
ocean voyage are forgotten-so complete
ly is one carried out of self
In ones enthusiasm for he fine singers,
must not overlook the grand orchestra
of more than sixty men, who could sal isfy
this music-loving people even if the cur
tain were not drawn.
And l must not fail to mention that
this famous opera-house, with its splen
did performers and brilliant orchestra, is
under the management of Count Seebach,
who, as director-g eneral, attends to all
the business affairs OF the royal opera.
He is very courteous to foreigners, and l
am already indebted to him for personal