Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1897-02-04
NEW CENTURY CLUB.

At the reception Monday hight week
the club and ito guests were delight
fully. entertained by Mrs. Susan MARI
Spalding, who described represents
tion OF Parsifal" at Baireuth in
Bavaria. 10 speaking Of Wagner 8
vaIuo in the musical world. she said be
is 70, music what Michael Angelo is TO
art, and in Germany is esteemed a
great poet az we'll. lie rebellej againat
ths triyialitios and artificialities of the
emodern italian opera. The most salient
Impression made by his operas on the
mind Of d listener who is not musical
ia of the interdspendence shown be-
tween music and action. or tho cor
respondence Of words, music. scenery
and action, which form complete har-
mony. With his wonderful knowledge
OF stage mechanics and his infinite in
geDuity be has managed to give to the
stage settings an empowering i'm
preston of reality; one seemed TO sec
the gradual changes of nature rather
than the shifting OF stage scenery.
The glow Of an actual sunset faded into
twiligbt and star sbone out as 1.-THE
Song OF the Evening Star" was sung.
To realize his ideal of the unity Of
for his theatre the quiet old town of
Baireuth, in its sheltered valley, whore
there were no counter attractions, or
distractions, and which would attract
only true lovers of music. Without
means Of his own, he would have becn
unable to carry out his project, save for
the muniicence Of the eccentric, but
enthusiastic young King Ludwig, who
gave him royalty Of all he could COM
mand. A generous contribution was
also made from America.
The exterior of the opera houae is
homogeneous in appearance, hut its in
terror, though extremely plain, is per-
fectly adapted to it's object. The
acoustic properties are perfect-all OF
the seats arc equally good for seeing
and hearing a performance. No pro-
jecting draperies or galleries break the
sound. Tho orchestra is concealed
from sight under the stage that No
sight Of instruments in motion may
distract the mind, while all the music
is thus 6ubdued and blended into per-
feet harmony. Wagner's control of his
orchestra was marvellous. 1t was as
though he held it in the hallow Of his
hand. He subjected all Of his artists
to the most thorough training. In pre-.
pairing the stage properties. first a fine
painting was made of the scenes, as
Wagner conceived them, by an artist
who was in sympathy with his aims.
These pictures were copied in moving
models and the result is stage scenery
perfect in it's illusions, and which has
made revolution in stage business.
The musical festivals are held al
Baireuth only in the summer, and the
old town, with it's palaces and castles
that were occupied. in it's long vanished
past, by petty German princes, seemf
to go fast asleep in tho intervals. Fuui
performances are given each week. and
on these summer afternoons all the
movement in the town is along thu
shady walk under the linden trees
toward the opera house on the hill
The play begins at 4 O'Clock and last
until 10 10 clock, with intervals of three
quarters of an hour between the acts
when the audience stroll about thu
grounds. The house is reduced almos
to complete darkness and silence. Il
is said not the Emperor himself coulC
gain admittance after the hour for tn,
representation to begin.
"Parsifal" is the most spiritual o
Wagner's operas. The argument i
adapted from the story of the Grail b.
Wolfram Won Eschenbach. 1t il Al
expression OF Wagner's faith, and O
the conflict in every human soul be
tween good and evil. The Grail is th
symbol of spiritual power of redemp
tion, through love and pity, and of th
destruction of selfwiil. Each characte
and theme has its own motif, which j
repeated whenever these are introduces
1-I a.. r. 4
and the car recognizes it with deligh
and understanding. The Grail motif
is woven in and out like a golde
thread through the whole. The must
accords with the peaceful woodlan
scenes with which the opera open
with the stormy scenes of the tempta
tion in the rose bower, and with til
final redemption and pardon of the sin
full ones, and one leaves tho perform
ance. not as from an opera, but i
reverent silence, feeling there is nothin
worth while in lIfe but the Twin
virtues-above all. purity.
Madame Wagner is a sort of auce
In 3aireuth. Her husband said Of hi
that she is the most Intelligent wOma
in Germany. She was hands and foe
head and heart for him, and sort
dragon as well, to scare away visitor
Now she carries out his ideas and IL
festivals. under her management, hay
become profitable
The lecture was illustrated by Il
singing of the Faith motif by Mi
Emma Lore, Miss Blanche Weldi
Mrs. William S. Prickett and Mr.
Joseph Swift, and by duct on Il
piano by Miss Lore and Mrs. Swift
''The Entrance of the knights into ii
Grail Castle"