New-York tribune., 1896-08-30

AND 'srEGFRIED" TO BE
EXPECTED.
When the Wagner music dramas are put on tho
stage OF the Metropolitan Opera Houre next "in
ter II IS intended that the stage shall snow some N
| Election of the stage at Bayreuth. Il think sa,"
William Parry. the stage manager OF the s'e.fopo' w
tan TO a Tribune reporter, that ought 10 know
something about operas by this time. put %"
things over there that never saw Dciore.
Mr. Parry has just come back from bayreu'n'
where he went TO get suggestions for the stage set
ting and the stage management OF DIE WalkuTe
and "Siegfried," which are to be done al the Ae.lS
poltan in the course OF the coming season az
account OF what he saw there and OF how ne iheeho.
TO make use OF his observations Will be OF undouD'eo
interest TO everybody who expects TO attend the
opera next winter
1T is not possible" said Mr.. Parry, for US 10 90
all that is done at Bayreuth or at Munich we GO
too many operas. and we cannot atteho 10 eae"
with all the closeness and care that they put INTO
them over there When told Herr Fuchs' inc
stage manager at Bayreuth and also at Munich
that we did twenty four operas In twelve weeks no
did not make any reply, but he looked al me III
way that seemed TO say: That is another American
lie But l shall try TO put Die "akure anu
'Siegfrled on the stage OF the Metropolitan JUST AZ
they are done al Bayreuth. They have some won
derfully beautiful effects thar we have never at
tempted here yet For instance. instead OF shutting
off with plain gray gauze let down from the
top they have their gauze painted 10 represent
clouds and they draw it across from one side to the
other that it looks Ike clouds gradually drit'hs
over the scene and shutting II off.
The setting for the first scene OF Die Walkdre' 10
not much different from the one that we used but
there was one change which thought was very
good Siegmund ard Hunding came In oy h'ue
door and when the time came for the disclosure OF
the spring picture a very large door was opened 20
as to show good deal more. and the opening OF this
big door seemed to be by great gust OF wind IL
was much more effective than the old way OF having
the door open OF Itself.
THE FIGHT SEEN BY LIGHTNING.
1.-THE second act has very beautiful set ana u
managed so produce fine effect The stage
is all covered with rocks When the time for the
fight between Segmund and Hunding approaches
the rocks at the back are cut OFF by these CLOUDS
that | mentioned before and then at the proper
times the fighters seen through the ciouus py
flashes of lightning. appearing only instantaneousy
Then Brinnhilde and Wotan rise up beyond them
and appear In the same way, not standing on the
rocks, but in the very clouds, apparently
There was Just one thing in this act that did
not like Fricka arrived in her chariot. drawn ny
two rams according TO the book. II was httie
Roman chariot and the rams looked ike toy rams
II seemed ridiculous to me. told Herr Fuchs what
l thought of IT, and he said that he agreed with me-
think it will be much better TO leave out the rams.
as we have done at the Metropolitan before, and let
Fricka walk
I'm the third they have new effect too with
the horses Ii IS not done with magic lantern. as
was here but they use wooden horses and they have
children riding them They are securely fastened
on and they are suspended from above and are
carried along at the proper rate or speed Inc r'o
ers are dressed just like the madens. and they
make motions with their arms and give periect
effect of reality to the whole picture. The whole
setting the for this act Is fine also with an
abundance of practical rocks which the war maid
ems climb about. But they do not work the hre'
think so we'll do. They seem to be terribly
afraid OF fire there and they will never use any II
they can help il. So while shall copy their act In
everything aise shall produce the fire Just as We
have always done II.
THE DRAGON AND THE FOREST BIRD.
The set for the first act OF 'Siegfred is not much
different from the that has been seen at the
Metropotan, though there Is uncommony
pretty forest picture seen through the door OF the
cave. But the second act is very fine. The set is
beautiful one, with the rocks and trees, ana ono
very big tree near the middle OF the stage. The
leaves of the trees cut so as TO produce Won
dcrful effect with the light. The cutting OF this
scene must take longer than the painting should
think ii is so finely DONE The Dragons cave Is
four feet ab9ye the level OF the stage ana s tne
have new dragon juit Ike HIM nm he Is 10 s se. a oas
his cave instead of only half way out, ana ne can
move his eyes and his mouth and lash his tail. of
course. he breathes QUO steam, too , 49,.
They get very pretty effect by using three
birds The first one crosses the stage from right TO
left and Siegfriei tries to follow II with his eyes
Thsn se Hnt esSd sf m %ahng it, nd
finally the third flies across from right 10 lelt
and away. and Segfred goes away IN pursuit
In the first scene Of the last act there is beauti-
full effect of river with moving and sparkling
the distance The front OF the scene is all
of rocks. OF course After Segfred has met Wotan
and has broken his spear the back Of the scene.
with the river is hidden by clouds and then the fire
Is Il R eet s % Of running down md
pushing It's way over them Ihen as oieglrinu g and p
you see him going higher and higher and the hre
coming lower and lower II IS the same i emsIe a. a.
the Grail only it is downward. instead Of from side
to side. At last Siegfried is surrounded by the nre
the stage so there is chance to the stage for
the second scene. When the clouds pass away the
Waikiire' and Siegfried Is coming up through
the fire the back of the stage
PLANS COMING FROM BAYREUTH.
Mr. Parry also went to Munich to the perform
ances Of 'Tannhauser" and The Marriage OF FL
CARO-" From these also he got ideas that he intends
to carry out at the Metropolitan. He brought back
pictures of all the scenes in the Bayreuth operas,
and Herr Fuchs Is furnish him with ground
plans for the stage settings. He did not find IT an
opera house at Bayreuth. He had letters from
Maurice Grau and Jean de Reszke. and the man
ayers glad 10 him. but letting him go on
the stage especially while performance was going
on. Herr Fuchs thought was different thing. lie
stage while an opera was In progress, ne SAID ana
thought OF. But afterward he became extremely
friendly with the stage manager from the Metro
pOtan and took him 10 the stage often between the
performances. but never In the course OF one.
The only thing that grieved him while ne
e2H snd seN M how dizzy and sob%esSy looked and to
see them using the same scenery that they had oyer
objections you Americans always want everything
fresh and new.
CHEAP OXYGEN ~ THE HOUSEHOLD.