The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-10-25
in THE MUSICAL WORLD
FRAU CAsIMA wAGyER's SIDE IN
THE s.PARsIFAL, CONTROVERSY.
Creatore's Coming Concerts Here-Ar-
rival OF Thibaud-General Music
Notes Of Interest.

The Damrosch-Bispham Wagner recital
I'm this city next month has nothing to do
with the fight that is now raging regarding
the New York production OF Parsifal."
There has never been any objection to give
"Parsifal'' in recital form. That has been
done for years in Europe and will be done
in the future all over the world. The fight
only stimulates the interest in "Parsifal
in this country and an opportunity like the
coming recital is a welcome opportunity
Both artists, Damrosch and Bispham, rank
among the greatest opponents of the Wag-
merriam music drama in this country and
both have no connection with the fight in
dividually. 1t makes little difference TO
indianapolis whether Van Rooy really takes
the part of Amfortas and other parts dur
ing the coming opera season in New York.
If he should decide TO stay in Germany
Bispham can step in and fill the bill.
The views of Frau Casino Wagner, widow
of the great master. concerning the singers
who have pledged themselves to sing In the
American production, are new and inter-
esting. In an interview published in Har-
per's Weekly she says: 'As soon as
had heard that Van Rooy had accepted Mr..
Conried's offer / inquired Of him whether
this was true. He replied that he had
pledged himself to learn two new Wagner
roles and he hoped that 'Parsifar would
not be one of them, but he could not break
his contract. He said he wanted to visit
me TO get my advice. L wrote him that
he must not break his contract. but that ne
should have made il a condition, as did
Felix Mottl, that he would not nave 10
appear in 'Parsifal.' / was very glad to
go over the matter with him and wrote
him that there was such a thing as an
artists honor and could not do every
thing merely for money. He did not come
10 see me. and l wrote again to him, stat
ing what disgust his agreement with Mr.
Conried had provoked in the whole artistic
world and that a spot would always rest
upon his name / asked Professor Kniese
to write to the tenor Burgstaller, and in
quire whether ne had agreed TO sing In
'Parsifal.' We received no reply. l had
the right to ask these questions of these two
singers, because they had both been trained
in Bayreuth and both of them began their
dramatic career here.
'In regard to Fraulein Ternina, the case
is somewhat different. She came to us as
a recognized artist, and although we stud
led with her very carefully the part OF
Kundry, she could have worked out this
task alone, though in a different way. To
be sure 1 thought that artist OF her
reputation would not so far forget herseif
as to commit sacrilege against a sacred
work merely for money.
In a communication sent TO the editor or
the New York Times man by the name
of Bystrom takes Frau Cosima's part. He
is one of the very few in America who has
ideals and is not afraid to say so.
eff music" he says, 'has vast influence
on the human race, so have also the rail-
roads Railroading as a profession has
doubtless been of an incalculable benefit to
the human race, but where is the mag
nate who would not protest against the
suggestion that his railroad should be free
TO all and not TO tax as quixotic the ac-
cusation that he was ungenerous in keeping
it exclusively for the enrichment of HIM
self and his stockholders? But in what
way do the two cases differ except in the
much greater lien that person necessarily
has on the products of his brain than he
would have on the possessions derived
from others labors, seconded by some
lucky chance? Why, then, stigmatize Cos
INA wagner ds uuScHCiOuo OcSoASS cAAS ~
faithfully carrying out the conditions i'm
posed upon her by Richard Wagner's will
in refusing to have 'Parsifap played else
where than the congenial atmosphere of
Bayreuth? Why should Cosima Wagner
be thus morally constrained to give her ex-
elusive right to 'Parsifar TO greedy num-
Der of individuals who, under the mask OF
benevolence and with the fallacious pre-
text that music belongs to the entire hui
man race, intend to extract the greatest
number of dollars from an ineffective
fashionable crowd, who. like Pantagruels
sheep flock, it is true. but care little for
what reason? What greater incongruity.
however, is conceivable than such an audi
ence at such a performance"
Thus the battle RACES. But it matters lit
tie. "Parsifar' will be given in this coun-
try in spite of all. 1t is bitter expert
ence for Frau Wagner TO be deserted by
some of her best singers, but sentimental
ity in this country is little developed and
ideals are cast aside even by the greatest
interpreters of the Wagnerian music drama.
The coming of the famous bandmaster