The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-09-28
,s,ao;,, Dfsnatch to The Times,

Cal at the PrinZ-Regenten theatre in this
CITY, is now drawing to its close, and
1t is probable that never before in the
history OF grand opera have such splen-
Gid performances been given as in this
wonderful new opera house, the pride OF
Germany and the admiration of the
world.
But before describing the theatre and
Che operas. let us first go to Bayrauti.
the cradle Of all that is best in Wagner
opera, and learn what a festival season
Is, and what Wagner opera is when 1t Is
produced as it Is at these two wonderful
European theatres.
Over twenty years ago Wagner built
this opera house at Bayreuth for the
model production of his operas, and even
now Bayreuth is to the musician what
Mecca IS 10 the Arab. To SO to Bay
reuth and to hear Parsifal there. that
opera which can be given nowhere else
in the world, is 10 receive the very
:reatest pleasure which can come into
the life of one who loves music.
The treatre stands on n hill overlook
Ing the city, lost in a maze of trees and
Esvers. IT fs a modest affair built OF
wood and brick, but the interior Is a
place where entertainments are wrought,
ind one feels this the moment he enters
the auditorium. The latter is not like
modern auditoriums, but modelled after
the ancient Greek aInphitheatre, with
tiers of seats rising gradually from the
stage: and neither galleries nor boxes.
The great space for the orchestra IS
sunk out of sight in front Of the stage,
go that nothing intervenes between the
footlights and the first row OF seats.
The opera begins at o'clock in the
g., Of t,-y,, ntS n
nounoing 10 tie throngs. of people stroll
ing about in the gardens that it is time
to go inside. When all are seated. the
Ekhts go out. and the first notes of the
overture steal up from ''the mystic
abyss" and the wonderful experience has
begun.
ST xoperas were given there this year
the four making up the ring, the Fly
ing Dutchman and ParsifaI, and because
the last is different from everything else
in the world. the few words which will
be devoted TO Bayreuth here must have
to do with this opera.
THE HOLY GRAIL.
The orchestra, In some of the most
wnderful music ever written. tells the
story of the opera in the overture. The
holy grail has been intrusted TO a COM
munity of knights, and magician named
l<lingsor, hopes to gain possession of 1t
by establishing a. sirens garden and en-
trapping all of the grails guardians. He
succeeds TO an alarming extent, but Just
In time an innocent-hearted youth. Par
sifal. comes TO the rescue, withstands
the seductions of the garden, and gains
such strength by resisting temptation
that he is able to destroy Klingsor and
his entertainments once for all.
ha q relates
story in detail, is not only wonderful
musically, but the scenic effects are a
marvel. The first act is on the borders
of a lake near the castle of the grail.
and when Parsifal is conducted to the
temple. instead of the curtain going
down during the cnange, the scenery
moves. showing the very route Parsi-
fal took, and when he enters the temple,
the audience is there, too. In this scene,
which is as beautiful as the Alhambra,
the solemn ceremony of revealing the
grail is shown Those who have seen
the highest masses in Rome have also
been profoundly impressed by the beauty
and solemnity Of this act
when I first saw Parsifal.'' said Mil
lla Ternina to me the other day, II was
overwhelmed. ] was as familiar with
all the stage devices and illusions as
any singer and actress could be; but
Ioarsifal overwhelmed me-"
One follows the opera with batcd
breath-the marvellous scene in the gar
Gen when after Parsifal has resisted the
temptations put before him, lifts the
sacred lance and speaks an exorcium
which makes the garden wilt away like
magic: and then back to the temple and
the second spectacle of the grail cere-
,nony. when Parsifal lifts the vessel high
In his hands and it grows red as blood.
Hundreds of red-cloaled knights are
;yneelinC as far down the vast aisles as
one can see; and presently white dove
nutters down from above and hovers
over the grail as The curtain falls one
comes out into the air with the dizzy
feeling as it he had been in another
world.
MARBLE THEATRE
This Is the most impressive. but by
,,,o.,s +he most wonderful or heauti-
ful of wagners operas. They an pc
,orr 10 the great art works OIL the
world. and when they are produced on
sncb a stage as that at Bayreuth, whefe
ali the different effects can be perlectis
given. and where a vast orchestra OF iol
musicians can accompany the operas ai'o
NAV tho overtures-when Washerlai'
rnrsic-draInaS are gwen Ills +" 1s -
called In Germany a festival.
The Prinz- Regenten Theatre IN 'his
r;ty Is a gloritied copy of the one al
l3ayre,,th. 1t is built of marble on the
rraan hanks of the Isar. and has the
sane ARRANGEMENT of auditorium and or
chcstra. The former is decorated IN blue
end white and gold and has an aar OF
the loveIiest quietness and repose: ana
the stage here is the most Wonderiul IN
Europe.
The writer was shown over the stage
last week by the chief engineer. ana
It may be interesting to relate the man
her in which the wonder operas are pro-
duced, before describing the actual pro-
auctions. The stage is 50 feet wide ana
so feet deep. The proscenium is AZ fee'
wide and IS feet high, giving tremendouS
perspectives. Below the stage there are
three floors, 30 feet deep altogether: and
rot only can over 100 traps be lowered
at will but the entire setting can be
sunk out OF sight while another one
comes down from above. The space over
the stage is 40 feet high, apparently
Wilderness OF ropes and levers and flies:
but, in reality so simple that il can be
controlled almost by the pressing Of a
button. There are two great tanks, dis
charging 200 cubic feet of water through
h rain apparatus. which is special in
49, ,1n 1,,, ,l,,. ~.