The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-08-31
ASKSLAW TOSTOP" PARSIFAL' -
FRAU WAGNER HIRES A LAWYER
TO CHECK CONRIED.
Gilbert Ray Halves Back From Germany
With the Widows Authorization TO
Seek an Injunction I'm His Pocket
Thinks the Courts VIII support Him.

Thinks the Courts VIII support Him.
Frau Cosina Wagner is not going to let
Herr Conried produce her late husband 4
opera "Parsifal" here this winter without
making fight in the courts here to prevent
the production. She has retained Halves
4 Judge, Broadway law firm, which has
been concerned in a good deal Of musical
litigation in the last ten years, to protect
her interests. Gilbert Ray Halves arrived
from Germany few days ago with Frau
Wagners authorization to prevent the pro-
ducton at any cost, in his pocket. Mr..
Halves thinks he can do il.
Mr.. Halves was on his wedding trip in
Switzerland a few weeks ago. Frau Wag-
ner sent for him to Walmfried. her home
at Bayreuth, and ertained him while
he investigated the Wagner side of the
controversy over the "Parsifal" rights
He has brought back documents which,
he says, establish the ownership by Frau
Wagner and her son Siegfried Of "Psrsifal"
and show the sentiment and intention of
Richard Wagner in regard to the opera.
Mr.. Halves would not say last night Just
what his plans are for bringing Herr Con-
ried's plars to halt. but he announced
that he would lose no time in apprising
the opera director Of the intention to bring
the matter into the courts.
Just how we shall proceed of course
I cannot tell you" he said, I'VE are not
giving much information in advance to the
other side But this can say: The Wagner
family have never parted with their own
ership of ParsifaP nor lost their rights
in the opera, as has been frequently stated
and the question whether it shall be pro-
duced without Frau Wagners consent
and outside of the Temple at Bayreuth has
a legal side as well as a sentimental one.
"The situation is very much the same as
when Salmi Morse undertook to present
the Passion Play here. 1t was held that
the production of such a play by hired
theatrical troupe for money was desecra-
tion and he was prevented by the courts
from carrying out his int.ation.
Parsifal is n sacred drama Ii en-
bodies the sacred story of the Holy Grail
and in it appear Christ and His disciples
1t must be produced in proper atmos-
phere with religious devotion. II should
not be put out as a money-making scheme.
THE Wagner family do not make one
cent from the productions at Bayreuth.
examined the accounts of the Temple of
Music for years back and not cent of the
money made ever went for anything out
side of the production. In fact the family
have been robbed right and left. Other
operas have been stolen and royalties are
seldom paid. The late Mr.. Stanton who
managed the Metropolitan Opera House,
is the only one ever heard of who paid
hhe family anything for producing the
operas
Frau Wagner and her son Siegfried.
to whom all the operas and works of the
master were left, are not business people.
They have devoted themselves 10 carrying
out Herr Wagners wishes Nothing has
been changed in the big house at Bayreuth
since he died. The very books on the
library tables remain as he left them.
at is hard for an American to under
stand the feeling that makes the production
of Parsifal' outside Of Bayreuth seem
sacrilege to the widow. II the merits
of the case were more generally known
there would be wave of popular SYM
patty aroused which would make the pro-
duction outside of Bayreuth as much of
a' i'i'po'''",'' 40 VIC s'as'ns vi 'io 'oer-
ammergau assion PIay'
Leaving sentiment aside, the Temple
of Music at Bavreuth is the onlv place
,rhara .porsifop c,n he ,,ronarl,, nrod,,o.d
w, miie's a. 81 ''i''' eat NC ope.y p'ouuoeu'
Inc stage lhere Is the rhest IN the world.
am told.
But more than that, Frau Wagner will
49, " 4