Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1900-03-26
OLE BULLS IDEAL.


D77rrSFFEgV7fE EfEsF rfFA@sSS
Norway has much to be grateful to
Ole Bull, whose home was for some
time in Madison, for and by no means
the least of his services to his native
land was his self-sacrificing and de-
termined effort to establish national
stage in Norway. It had long been one
of his most cherished ideals and on his
return from the first concert tour in
America, he went to work with his
characteristic energy and enthusiasm
His brother, Edward Bull, approved the
plan and when it was preached to the
public in a fest given in his honor in
Bergen, in June, 1S49, it met with the
most cordial reception This was
Bergen's theater was leased for the
coming season and all who desired to
participate were requested to present
themselves to Bull in person and eX
hibit their talents. The response was
generous and the great musician was
soon over his ears in work in attempt
ing to sift out the gold from the dross.
1t was perplexing and, at times, a
most trying task, for every apprentice
or domestic who could recite a few Sc
lections or sing song built dreams of
becoming great actors or favorite
prima donnas. Still the work pro-
crossed so fast that on Nov 21 1S49, a
dress rehearsal was held in the pres
ence of about 400 invited guests. 1t
was successful beyond all expectations,
and on Jan 2, 1850, Norway's first ma
tional stage was joyfully launched with
a company including such talented peo
| pie as Johannes Brun, Peter Nelson,
Miss Louise Gulbrandsen and lesser
| lights Ole Bull was the prime mover
in all, but was specially in charge of
| the orchestra and music The perform
ance consisted of a prologue written by
Erik Bolstad and recited by Miss Gull
brandsen, who later became the wife of
| the famous Johannes Brun. The play
| was Holberg'S Den Vaegelsindede,"
and the performance was described as
wonderful The historic evening closed
with the rendition of Bulls new COM
! position, the well-known tone painting,
| the visit to the Saeter (Saeterbesoget).
1t was the intention to open with
Wergeland's Fjeldstuen, but Bull had
not found time to compose the music
and this play was not given until Jan.
| 13 of the same year.
| There were many amusing features
| in the history of the first stage The
peasants from Hardanger who were Sc
cured for the national dances could not
master the inclined floor and often fell
with resounding thumps on the hard
| floor Then Ole Bull had trouble with
the police over passes, and during that
| winter was often fined for unlawful to-
bacco smoking. On the whole, the short
season was fairly successful with
promising future. Bull assumed all the
obligations and left the young theater
| in charge of committee of ten men,
| for it was impossible for him to remain
in Bergen
Jensen remained as instructor and
Edward Bull assumed charge of the
music and orchestra An effort to Sc
cure financial aid from the storthing
failed, but the work was continued with
the old enthusiasm
Henrik Ibsen Joined the company in
the fall of 81 as the playwright. The
next five years was the theater's gold
en- age. Several of Ibsen's earlier dra-
mas were produced for the first time
in this period and the incompatible
Johannes Brun and his almost equally
capable wife gave the people of Bergen