New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-04-20

work is ready then to be produced.
Now as to the production Of mechanical effects
which amaze so many operagoers. spectacular
works require elaborate scenic outfits. while in an
onera such as Tristan und Isolde" the material
features are extremely simple. Wagner's operas.
for example. because of the quality and quantity OF
scenic effects call for constant study and the exer
else of Imagination. and 1t is more difhcuit 10
mount the masters creations than those OF many
other composers.
To show the differing forms of scenic witchery in
opera. in Gounod's Faust" Act II, scene e. where
Mephistopheles sings grim and weird drinking
song, and then strikes fire from the signboard kes
into his cup and proposes the health Of Marguerite
Valentin. springng forward to resent the Insult TO
his sister only find his sword broken by Mephis-
topheles the fire cup and spark-emittins sword
worthy Of description. The fire cup contains
chlorate of potash. red fire and small
vessel filled with sulphuric acid. and balanced so
nicely that the slightest movement will cause the
acid to drip on the powders is suspendeSd, sooSe
ias s se ss IN fhe
HIM and ss the Is the the ssor Ht
test. Where Faust and xalentn stand are IRE
socket is attached to the heel Of the right buskln Of
each, and a wire the color OF their costumes ls
passing through the belt They slip the ends Of the
wires into the hits Of their swords and standing
electrical connsstoH is made ,,.s ss. onoor.
tuny for the OF
Of the scenic artist and property master. In Das
the River Rhine. from which rise rugged ridges OF
rock. Around one Of these the Rhine maidens are
On T SaSS ss wn o part rSe
the S's first sac act Of Die WaiEure' the red glow
III the res s qd 10 det the
is effected with red incandessent light in IN TN
hung just before the ilt In this opera the stere-
aPe Of pf limiting and coad
With the flashing OF agnesium power IN pan 20
lightning is thrown upon the back drop or other
portions of the scenery with the sereoPticon The
stereopticon as follows a circular wooden frame,
through which near the edge hole three inches b
stereopticon "a glass disk Having various figures
is focused through the circular hole and the fig
ures dashed upon the scenery In sh iod the
often. much depends on the efficient work Of the
eSery mechaDcs device in Which gas is used
deed, the light effects in this opera tax the gas
may not be lost For instance. the slints Of
shine playing through the foliage b back Of MINIS tG
Wanderers prophecy: and the effects in the Wald;
in the sn.s Which 6e%s are Tba Has
glazed with lead in irregular shapes one panel ar
the other and back again before an electric light
In the forging gas ee fe ana Eyed
framework with spaces for gas jet. a piece OF
split and ndy rnee on s ' With M
eopodum powder On the forge is box painted
electric lights behind piece of red gelatine The
Ses d9E e also the ra from
tbe for supplying the gas jet and p pipe s gs
jet is lighted before the curtain In the wings
with mirror stands near an electric light
is admitted to the tube which feeds the split pipe,
podnm powder ss out Of the box By
jet and the flames from the split pipe it blazes up.
he hear
flames fickering over bed of coal or embers. The
Sa Of
throw ana Ts are ege the red gel
The dragon Ger, Fafner, who has changed him
seb into saa e The F ns
thin wire covered with eurIed leather scales sal
dressed in a suit Of canvas painted the color Of
on the trousers below the knees his shoes being the
huge eswsd feet He gets b into r the m behind
his legs being the dragons front legs. With his
ssoss 1t ees its
The steam issuing from its mouth is SUPPLIED sup st
and tiI runs through to the throat; The singer who
When PART TT. Of is h sns hSe @
sits under the raised bridge upon which the dragon
is N she aaa Knight
of the Holy Grail. invoked by Elsa to come to her
having murdered Gottfried that She may obtain
the m cse in By
has the appearance 81 swimming down 6 the winding
this scenic feature. and the one now used appears
to give satisfaction. At the back of the stage is
the river drop giving view of the distant
and the Scheldt winding through the meadow. and
broadening out toward the foreground. When Elsa
has sung her dream motive telling of the gallant
youth who is to rescue her there appears the
river the knight in a boat drawn by a swan. This
boat is built upon a three-wheeled truck. under
which are two men, who shove II along. The
over the front wheel steers by means of a rod
connected with the wheel. The swan Is supported
by two rods running out from the front OF the
truck. Its neck is built around steel spring; its
body and wings feathers and swansdown upon
wirework When II inclines its head and spreads
its wings Lohengrin sings his farewell TO it, the
motion is produced by of the men underneat tn
pulling thin cord which is attached to its beak
and manipulating clock movement under it's
wings. In the last act. when the swan disappears
and Elsa's brother IA restored 10 har "a dnua fnt