Omaha daily bee., 1899-09-10
AS VIEWED BY AN AMERICAN
Judge Woolworth Describes Scenes Of a
Vacation Spent in Europe.
BIENNIAL WAGNER CYCLE At BAlREUTH
Excitement Of Paris over the Dreyfus
Case Not So Remarkable as Had
Been Anticipated-wonders
of the New Exposition.

Hon. James NJ. WOODWORK. recently re-
turned from the continent OF Europe, where
he spent the summer in the company OF his
daughter, talked entertainingly for The Bee
OF his trip the other day, giving his per-
sonal Impressions Of things which attract
the eyes Of the new toward the old world.
The particular object OF my daughter
and myself in going abroad this year. he
said, was to attend the Wagner Musical
festival at Baireuth, in Bavaria, Germany,
Balreuth is a town Of about 10000 people,
beautifully situated in the midst OF a wide
valley. 1t is a quaint old place, with many
interesting historical associations. Wagner
erected here an opera house with seats for
1900 and an immense stage, with stage
fittings, said to be as large and complete
as any In the world. He provided In his
will that every two years a festival Of four
weeks should be hold, at which only his
operas should be performed. Since his
death the directions OF his will have been
complied with under the direction OF his
widow and son. siegfried. Their man
agement is more or less criticised. as all
such affairs always are. The season con-
slsts Of four cycles, at which the same, or
nearly the same. performances are given.
This year a cycle consisted Of the Ring
including the Introduction to the triology
90 lAC iNhlht6Olh' hlNh 10 lbOi
~ ever performed in this country. The
other operas are the 'valkure,' 'Sieg-
fried the 'Gotterdamerung. the 'Meister-
singer and 'Parsifal.'
The stage-settlng OF these musical per-
formances is magnificent and constitutes
their chief feature. There are some good
singers and some who are not remarkable.
1t Is said that the singing at the Metro
politan Opera house in New York last win
ter surpassed anything that is heard at
Baireuth. 1t Is the atmosphere and as
sociatlons which give the special interest
to the performances at Baireuth. People
go there in great multitudes from all over
the world for the express purpose OF hearing
these performances, and they talk and think
and dream Of nothing else. The perform
ances begin at 4 o'clock In the afternoon
and close about 9:30. Between the first and
second acts is an intermission OF half an
hour, when everybody goes to the cafe for
tea; between the second and third acts Is
another intermission OF an hour, during
which everybody has supper. The theater
stands on a gentle rise of ground surrounded
by gardens and park overlooking one OF the
most beautiful valleys 1 ever saw. Just be-
fore the performance four or six members
of the orchestra come out in front of the
entrance and at various points play the
motif which calls the people to their seats.
This Is done very quickly, and It is aston
ishing how suddenly all noise. even the
rafting Of the program or a whisper ceases
when the lights are turned down. The or
chestra Is splendid; rs good as is heard
anywhere in the world. Richter was the
principal leader, one of the best. When
Siegfried Wagner leads the whole perform
ance drags; but 1t is said this is in pur-
suance of his fathers idea and direction
Every seat in the house Is good and there
Is not one from which the whole stage may
not be seen. There are no galleries, but
the seats rise rapidly from the orchestra.
In the rear is a slightly raised space occu-
pied by royalty and the nobility. The charge
Is the same for every seat in the house.
The last performance in the cycle was
'Parsifal,' in which the myth of the Holy
Grail is portrayed. Parsifal is a most diff
noult character. He is represented as a
young man OF perfect innocence and in
presenting this feature there is a certain
amount CT what you may almost call stu
pldity In many parts OF his performance.
But the spectacles and the chorus singing
are beyond description"
"Did you get any Impressions Of the Drey-
fus trial?'
while we were In Parts the tragedy OF
the shooting OF Labori, one OF the counsel
Of Dreyfus, took place at Rennes. I ex-
pected TO see great excitement, and for the
purpose OF learning the effect of that event
upon the people OF the city, I went around
20 the great cafes. I was greatly surprised
that there was so little excitement. In
fact, / did not see anything out OF the or
binary. There was more or less talk of the
trial, but I saw no indications whatever of