The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-07-21
BAYREUTH FESTIVAL
BEGINS MONDAY.
Wagner Patron Will Ask Music Lovers Of
the World "Parsa" Outside OF Bayreuth
Refused Million Opera From American Managers


Bayreuth, Germany. July 2.-on July
% the great festival plays begin. 1.-THE
Flying Dutchmar," under Mottl. being the
initial opera. The cast is made up by
Heidkamp. Burgstaler. kraus, Van Rooy,
Bertram, Peter. Destinn and Schumann-
Heink, of whom the latter and Van Rooy
are favoIaby known in the United States.
1.-THE Flying Dutchman" will be repeated
August ], 4, II and 10. On July %. %, z and
Is the "Nibelunsenried" will be sung by
Van Rooy. BertraT, Burgstaller, Schmedes.
Briess-SchuetZ, Friedrichs. Gulbranson and
Williamson, under Hans Richter.
Siegfrid Wagner will conduct the same OPP
era on August ID. 16 and II. But the piece
Of resistance will be "Parsifal. sung by
Van Dyck. Schmeles, Knuepfer, Friedrichs.
Blass, Witch and Guttich. The "ParsifaP'
performance takes place July % and 81. Au-
gust 5. Z, s, II and 49, Herr Muck conduct
ing.
The town is full of Americans. who point
with pride to the fact that many OF the
principal singers. Van Rooy, Van Dyck,
Bertram, Blass and Schunann-H eink. per-
formed their best work in the United States.
Several whom your correspondent met this
afternoon, and who new to the place
| and conditions. intended to demonstrate with
| set for performances. in the afternoon, but
| OH q second consideration decided TO save
| themselves the trouble, particularly as one
| or two were still without tickets for Par
| sifal." the opera which can be heard no
| where but here for the next thirteen years.
Our friends were afraid the astute man
| ayers might punish them by refusing to
| take their money, which Is, of course, all
| nonsense. Cosima has her notions GER
| tainly. but, above all, she Is business
l woman, probably the most remarkable the
fatherland ever produced.
Frau COsima as a Manager
and Woman of Affairs.
| The writer watched her time and again
| with her musical assistants and stage man
| ayers. Mr.. Balm Of London, Pohiig of stuff
| CART. LUXE of Vienna and kaehler of Marin-
helm, not to forget Siegfried. her son. Every
one of these gentlemen. particularly the
| last named. Is full of self-importance-if
| you hear them talk OF their superhuman
| talents and achievements over glass Of
beer, you wonder that the great Richard s
rame is at all mentioned in connection with
the festival. Pohlig. LUXE and Kaehler be-
ing SO much more essential to success.
But. oh! what a difference when Frau
1
yisory Board resemble almost council OF
| state, where Cosima assumes the role OF
queen and regent. while her assistants act
like mere hirelings. without vote or opinion
OF their own. Every little while there is a
fare-up. though-one or more Of the Min
listers withdraw, never to see Bayreuth
| again-but, on the whole, Cosima isn't the
tyraDt for which she passes. From people
whose technical knowledge is above Ques-
ton she even deigns to accept advice occa-
isionally. and when she does quarrel with
them, is not unwilling to make it up. Hans
Richter, certainly not an angel to get along
with, is back again, without Frau Wagner
having yielded an fota- The fact Is. when
a woman is really superior in her line. even
the fiercest shouters for mans supremacy
are apt to surrender.
Siegfried is very fond of himself and quite
satisfied that some day he will be as great
as his father, but his mamma, very much
unlike other mothers. continues to look up
on him as a mere beginner. with plenty to
learn. To make that perfectly clear, she de-
creed that he must alternate with Richter
conducting the 'Nibelungenreid," one Of the
severest competitive tests ever heard Of.
The Incompatible Hans, fun Of years, expe-
rience and genius, leading to-day, young
Il
morrow. with the greatest musical critics
and critical musicians of all the world look
! ing on and noting down. and gloating ovel
every infinitesi1nal mistake he may make. Il
that doesn't put 1.-The son Of his father or
his metal nothing will.
Among Frau CosiIna's intimates II 4:
whispered that she made the arrangement
not because she loved siegfried less, bu
because she places art and ambition abov.
sentiment.
Before the end Of the season we will prob
ably hear Of some attempt on Frau Cost
mas part to persuade festival guests to ait
her In the campaign for protecting "Parsi
fall against 'profanation"-ttat Is, produc
ton outside Of Bayreuth. Whether such b
planned by q Hans Richter or by some ig
norant boune manager is all the same
Wagner would turn in his grave at thu
misuse Of his most sacred possession"
The Reichstag having declined to prolonl
tho Wagner copyright after its Forthcoming
expiration. February Il, 1s13-note the pro
fusion Of unlucky numbers-Mme. Cosims
intends to appeal to the Wagner enthusi
asts Of the world, asking them for nothin,
less than their perpetual refusal to patroniz
any ''Parsdfar' performance held outside tn
sacred precinct, no matter by whom or un
der what favorable circumstances.
Tho appeal. as formulated by the macs
tro's widow. will read as follows: TT wa
Richard Wagners last Will that 'Parsifal
be played nowhere outside Of his own thea
ter at Bayreuth. for he intended this oper,
as q lasting heritage to postertty. repre-
senting the best. the purest, the most virg1
| nal Of all the work he performed during {
long and busy life. And a. a sacred crea
ton he regarded 1t worthy to be protected
for all time against the vicissitudes an,
shortcomings to which ordinary theatrica
property u subject
Wagner Wanted "Parsifal"
Produced Only IN Bayreuth."
Richard Wagner wanted Parsifal
played before the congregation Of music Low
ers that assemble at Bayreuth only. mer
and women who may be expected to receiv,
this great work In the proper spirit.
THAT his heirs have no selfish motive In
trying to restrain the performance Of Par
sifal IL self-evident. for though .ParsifaI,
greatest musical property In the world, 1.
absolutely unproductive nowadays. I
the rights were sold. even to but few
managers in Europe and America. the,
would bring In hundreds Of thousands pel
year."
Much as the friends Of music may difte,
with Frau cosima's attitude in respect I,
, "Parsifal." no one denies that to sell tn,
3 | right Of production broadcast would be al
. excellent stroke Of business.