The sun., 1903-08-30
LATEST "PARsrFAEv MYTH.
why "Bayreuth Company" VIII Not and
Cannot Come to New York.

Cannot Come to New York.
The mass of legend that has alreaoy
attached to the "Parsifal" project was
notably increased last week by the most
extravagant yarn that has yet been sub
mitted on that subject. This related to
Frau Wagners intention of coming here
with her son Siegfried and the Bay
reuth company of singers as well as the
-Bayreuth orchestra" to give an authenti-
Gated performance of the sacred opera
in New York before it was sung at the
Metropolitan Opera House.
II requires only the most casual know-
edge of amusement conditions here to
realize how impossible such scheme
is, so far as New York is concerned. There
are only two theatres in which work of
the magnitude of "Parsifal" could be sung.
One is the Metropolitan, which Mr.. Conried
will certainly not surrender to rival
enterprise. The other is the Academy
Of Music, to which it is extremely difficult
to attract the patrons of high-priced opera.
That theatre is not likely to be available,
nor could the scenery be prepared in time
for any New York production
But the references to a "Bayreuth COM
pany" and "Bayreuth orchestra" show a
more complete misunderstanding of the
condit ions at Bayreuth. Neither Of these
organizations exists. The singers at Bay
reuth are selected from the opera houses
throughout Germany.
There are always in the school at Bayreuth
some pupils Of Herr Kniese preparing to
take small roles in the festival performances,
but they are required to study IA long time
before they are ready to appear. So far
this institution has produced only Alois
Burgstaller and Anton van Rooy. It's
forces have never included talent sufficient
for the production Of "Pars fal."
The other German singers are employed
during the winter in the opera houses that
engage them regularly, and they would
| not be available. The same is true OF the
chorus singers who take part there.
Nor is there any Bayreuth orchestra.
| The players who go there for every festival
| come from the German and European
| cities, arrive in time for rehearsals, and
| after the festival performances return to
| the opera houses that engage them per
, manently.
There are not even Bayreuh conductors.
| Mottl. Richter and the less known con-
ductors are employed at Bayrenth for
only few weeks The rest Of the time
they are conducting orchestras in other
| parts of the world.
There is no permanent Bayreuth in
stitution beyond the few persons who,
under Herr Knese, teach the singers who
| come there to take part in the festivals
the traditions Of the roles.
II is at Bayreuth that the opposition
| to the American performance of "Parsi-
fal" is strongest. and 1t is not confined
, altogether to the Wagner family The
good citizens of that Bavarian town and
| the peasants that live about it are more
excited than even the Wagner family
For the Bayreuth festivals all but support
the town and the region about it.
These people believe that the prosperity
OF the town will end when "Parsifal" is
once sung anywhere else After that
day there will be no more festivals, no
more crowds of tourists 10 lodge and feed
no more souvenirs TO he sold only ruin
because "Parsifal" is to be heard in other
places. The belief of Bayreuth is that
its prosperity depends on the monopoly
of -Parsifal.
II cannot see" Mr. Conred said to a
SrH reporter. that there will I've any less
desire on the part Of the public to sae 'Parsi
fal at Bayreuth merely because il has
been produced in New York. ! think
on the other hand, that it will arouse greater
interest in the work There will be a de
sire to compare the two performances
and those able to afford the luxury Of &
trip to Bayreuth will he more eager thar
ever to take the journey.
THE more the Nihehmgen Ring is sunl
the greater is the desire Of persons who
have heard il here or elsewhere to ge
70 Bayreuth and see what is the difference
between the two representations. Th'
same will apply TO 'Parsfal PERSON.
who never took any interest in the worl
before will hear il here and then want t,
go to Bayreuth I am confident tha
Frau Wagner will profit TO a large exten
from the production OF the opera in tn
| United States