The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1904-04-05
ELECTION TODAY.
STORY OF THE GRAIL.
Description of the First Production Of
Wauner's "Parsifat-

IN view or the approaching elaborate
performance. April 18th. OF the Parsifal
music by Mr. Walter Damrosch and the
entire New York Symphony Orchestra
and ten soloists. the following description
Of the first performance OF the finale Of
act first by Wagner himself may be OF
interest. or this. Kufferath. in his fine
book on Parsifal says.
The prelude was finished as we have
seen. on December % 1878 but the entire
act was not completed until the spring OF
1880. The following autumn Wagner went
with his family 10 Italy. where he estab-
lished himself i'm the villa d'Angri. on the
slope of the Pausilippe. near Naples. Here
he added the finishing touches 20 the sec
ond act Here also. on MAY % 1851. a few
days before returning 10 Germany. he
gave for the first time the final grand
scene of the first act before a circle OF
intimate friends Madame Wagner and
the children sang the choruses Of the
youths and the voices from the cupola.
Some German friends musicians who
were travelling through Naples, were
appointed to sing the choruses OF the
knights and Wagner recited the soil. Jo-
seph Rubinstcin presided az the piano
The following description % .hc legend
of the Holy Grail which Wagner has used
in Persifsl may also be of interest to our
readers:
In country far away and inaccessi-
BILE there is a sacred citadel by the name
Of MontSalvat A temple so brilliant that
the whole earth has nothing 10 compare
n in eylnr Nd erla dor
Within its enclosure. in the depth Of the
sanctuary. pious hearts worship by night
and by day. the holy chalice into which
God poured his divine bldod; this vase
was brought 10 the earth by angels. that
II might be intrusted 10 the protection OF
pure and simple hearted men.
Every year there descends from heaven
a white dove 10 give new strength 10 its
miraculous virtue This vase is the Holy
Grail Whoever adores IL and gives him.
self to it's service is endowed with super
human power Wherever his destiny may
lead him. the Grail will sustain him.
whenever he comba;s for right and virtue.
But the power OF the Grail is OF such
a nature that It vanishes as soon as Il II
revealed; a severe Law commands the
knights 20 remain unknown 70 the world.
II they reveal their rank. they lose their
power. they have 20 depart at once and
return TO the holy mountain
- That II why / am going TO leave you.
was sent 20 you by the Grail: my father.
Parsifsl, Is king Of the Grail. and I. HIS
knight. am called Loh-ngTin. Thus says
the knight OF the swan % the moment
when he Is about ~ leave Elsa forever.
This narrative. which leads % che de- 4
movement OF Lohengrin. may I'm a meas &
Ure serve a. an Introduction % Parsifai .
II defines the character and the place OF
the action. Only IN Psrzlfsl ~ s. youth 4
simple OF heart and mind when eco .
IT ruggiing 20 attain the highest position 4
and become king or the order ~ the 4.
Grail, while in Lohengrin II T. a kaight 4
already IN possession Of auP-rhufnsn /
power and accomplishing g divine mission
Whose chivslric exploits ara 80 SIS reveal
"a. The suoteet ~ Psrsifsi. "a thnse ~
LohengnR, 81 Tristan ard Ys>uit. and II
Tannhauser, have been borrowed BY Wsg-
rer from the reuisnces and spie poems ~
the middle sges'