Rosebud County news. [volume] (Forsyth, Mont.) 1901-1906, 1903-10-15
"PARSIFAL" in NETWORK
Nine. Wagner's Views on Con-
ried's Opera Project.
WHY SHE OPPOSES PERFORMANCE.

"1e OF Famous Composer Bases Her
objection on the Fact That the
1eator of the Opera Intended 1t to
Be Permanently Reserved For the
Baireuth Theater.
Thomas Stockham Baker, the special
representative of Harper's Weekly at
Baireuth. Germany, had the following
interview with Frau Cosima Wagner
the wife Of the composer, on the pro-
posed American production of Wag-
ner's "Parsifal' in New York:
You are certainly very busy wom-
an, Frau Wagner" l said. "Do you
not find your labors too severe?"
1T Is not the work which exhausts
me. Work rests me; but there are
other things" she said.
"'Parsifar in New York" l ven
tured to ask.
Yes, we must oppose the perform
ance of 'Parsifal' in any other place
than In the Baireuth Festival theater,
The creator Of the work expressed very
clearly his desire that 'Parsifar should
be given solely here. 1t is not at all
question whether the performance in
America can injure Baireuth. but
merely whether we shall obey the di-
rect commands Of the master. OF
course l expected that the Baireuth
artists would take no part in Mr.. Con-
REDS performance and that German
singers in general would have too
much professional honor and artistic
pride to help in the production Of
work in direct opposition to the wishes
Of Richard Wagner
what is the true state of the case
in regard to the singers who have ap-
peared here?" l asked.
las soon as | heard that Van Roov
had accepted Mr.. COnrieds offer / in
quired 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. | wrote to him
that he must not break his contract.
but that he should have made it a con-
dition as did Felix Motif, that he would
not have to appear in 'Parsifal.' was
very glad to 90 over the matter with
him ana wrote him that there was
such thing rs an artists honor. ana
one could not de everything merely for
money. He did not come to see me,
and | wrote again to him, stating what
disgust his agreement with Mr.. Con-
ried had provoked in the whole artistic
world and that a spot would ALWAYS
rest upon his name. / asked Professor
kniese to write to tie tenor Burg
staller and inquire whether he had
agreed to sing Parsifal We received
no reply. | had the right to ask these
questions of these two singers be-
cause they had both been trained in
Baireuth and both Of them began their
dramatic career here.
In regard to Fraulein Ternna the
case is somewhat different. She came
to us as a recognized artist. and. al, |
though we studied with her very care
fully the part of kundry she could
have worked out this task alone. |
though in different way. TO be sure,
thought that al artist Of her reputa-
lion would not so far forget herself as,
10 commit sacrilege against sacred |
work merely for money"
Frau Wagner has had bitter eXpe-
fences bur nothing has affected her.
more deeply than the proposed per-
,ormance Of "Parsifal'' in New York
ma more especially the desertion Of
Ter leading singers Those who are
pest informed on this subject believe
hat if Van Rooy and Ternina and
do sing in "Parsifal' they
Viii never be heard again in BaireutA.