The San Francisco call., 1896-07-20
Magnificent Performances Under
the Auspices of Prince
Luitpold.
MIMIC STRIFE OF FABLED GODS
Herr Hans Richt,r Leads the Or.
cheStra in Rendition of the
Masterpiece.


tetralogY, der Ring des Nibelun ,en, 4"
given under the auspices of Prince Regent
Luitpold of Bavaria. There was also a
large crowd on the hill on which the Fest
spielhaus is located. The cast was as
follows:
Wotan-Carl Perron, Dresden.
Fricka-Madame Marie Brema, London.
Frya-Frauleiu Marion Weed, Berlin.
Erda-Frau Heink-Schumann, Hamburg.
Loge-Heinrich vogel, Munich.
Froh-Alois Burgstaller, Bayreuth.
Donner-Hermann Bachmann, Nurnoerg.
Fainer-Johannes Elmblad, Breslau.
Fgsolt-Ernst Wachter, Dresden.
Mime-Hans Breuer Bayreuth.
Alberieh-Friedrich Friedrichs, Bremen.
Welgune-Fraulein Katharine Rosin, Chem
nitz.
woglinde-Fraulein Josephine Won Artner,
Hamburg.
Flosshilde-FrauIein Olive Fremstad, Co
logne.
The parts of Loge. Fasolt, Erda, Frya
ana Mime we're presented in an excellent
manner. Perron as Wotan, Friedrichs as
Alberich and Elmblad as Fafner produced
only a moderately favorable impression,
While the representation of the Rhine
Daughters was bad. The work of the
orchestra under the direction of DR.. Hans
Richter of Vienna was admirable. The
scenery was good, but it often did not &C
cord with the Wagner tradition.
When tn curtain arose the audience be-
gan TO discern in the dimness of the scene
the representation of the deep waters Of
the Rhine moving slowly. The music,
with its deep, slumberous sound, waited
the audience from the noise and turmoil
outside and feeling of com plete rest
came over the listeners.
By degrees there can be seen three
figures moving to and fro in the dimness
of the water. They are those of the
Rhine daughters, Wellgunde, Flosshilde
and Woglinoe. They swim around a rock
in the center of the Rhine stream
Lower down can be seen hideoas-Iook-
ing dwarf who, creeping from cavern in
the bottom of the Rhine, watches the play
OF the maidens. This hideous, ugly dwarf
is AIberich, king of the Nibelungs. The
Nibelungs are beings who live in dark
caverns underground.
Alberich begins to court the Rhine
maidens and in the course OF their con-
versatioh it is learned that the three
maldens are there TO guard the Rhinegold
magnificent treasure with powerful
mystic properties
This Rhinegold suddenly begins to shine
on the top of the rock around which the
maidens are swimming and singing the
praise OF tha mar-elous treasure. Alberich,
who has been fooled by the Rhine daugh-
ters, and MS pleadings Tor love having
been scotted at by them asks the ma idens
what the gold is good for
They tell him the worlds wealth is to
be won by him who from the Rhinegold
should hammer a ring which would be-
stow measureless might. WoglInde tells
Aiberich further that none but he who
IRON the delights OF love withholds, who
for its might has heed no more" alone can
reach the wonder which rounds the gold
to ring.
These guardians of the Rhinegold are
in no fear of Alberich, for he has shown
them that he is an ardent courtier; there
fore he Is no mt person TO secure the gold.
But the experiences Alberich has made
with these daughters OF the Rhine have
worked a revolution within him.
lie no longer is in love- be become s
greedy OF the power that is connected with
the possession of the gold. As he cannot
have love he decides to have power. And
he calculates In possession of power and
gold: And forced l not love, yet de-
lights at least, / might filch."
Therefore with extreme determination
he Climbs up the rock from which the gold
sends its rays, calls the waters to witness
e.
the gold 10 gain the ring and plunges
headlong with 1t into the depths, where he
swiftly disa ppears.
The Rhine daughters dart straight after
the thief, screaming for help. Complete
darkness sets in, the floods fall and
laughter Of Alberich. AS the waves dis
appear clouds arise, and finally one dis
covers through a thin mist a beautiful
piece OF open country on mountain
heights.
The breaking day lightens with growing
brightness castle with shining battle.
ments standing upon rock in the back
ground. Between this castle on the rock
and the foreground of the scene it is sun
posed lies a deep valley with the Rhine
flowing through il.
AT the side. on fower-radiant ground.
reposes Wotan, the god CT gods, the
FrIcka, his consort, beside him. Both are
asleep. Wotan yearns to possess the
measureless might which would fail to
him who hammers the Rhinegold to a
ring.
As he is an unfit person to achieve this
aim and end, because he will not forego
love, he strikes bargain with the giants
FasoIt and Fafner to build MIN a castle on
lofty height as mark of his supreme
power.
Z This castle Wotan calls Valhall As
payment, Wotan was induced by the half
god Loge to pledge to the giants the fair
Goddess Frya; but when the castle il COM
pleted he tries to withdraw from the bar
gained payment Loge then tells him that
Alberch already has the ring and the
giants demand that. AS pledge they
carry away the Goddess Frya.
Wotan and Loge then go to the under
ground realms, where by cunning they in
duce AIberich TO exert the magic he has
acquired and turn himself into toad.
Tins done. they secure him and the ring
and carry both to the upper region. There
they set Alberich free, when with intense
rage he curses the ring, declaring that it
shall bring death to any one who wears it.
until II comes back TO him.
lie then disappears; the two giants fight
to the death for the possession of the ring.
After returning Frya Fasolr is killed and
the other giant walks of with the ring
and all the treasures.