The daily democrat. [volume] (Anadarko, Oklahoma) 190?-1908, 1907-08-10

An American Bayreuth on the Hud-
son. an institution which shall grow
to be the center Of students OF music,
and a place where lovers of classical
music will be able to crafty their aes-
thetic tastes to the full, is the dream
of Nine. Nordica, and she has avowed
her purpose to bring that dream to re-
alization. The close friends Of the
prima donna know that the plans for
carrying out such a gigantic project
have been carefully nursed for many
years. At first they were immature;
in a sense they are immature still;
but I'm the last few days they have
taken on such a substantial form that
their consummation Is now practical
ly assured. Nine. Nordica has pur-
chased a site of 20 acres at Harmon
on-the-Hudson, for which she paid
100000, and is now negotiating for an
additional ten acres She Is at pres
ent in Munich, where she will secure
the plans of the Bayreuth opera house.
which will be reproduced in all its de-
tails. together with the other institu-
tions in the musical community built
by Frau Wagner. She will also en-
deavor TO bring back with her the di.
rector of the Bayreuth opera house to
act in the capacity of consulting di-
rector, and has planned that the
gIAnd opening will take place next
summer in the Festival hail. which is
to be named in her honor. Walter
Damrosch, the well-known musical d.
rector Of New York, will be the first
conductor of the opera house. An
architect has been secured, and other
details have been arranged and are
arranging; so the project may be said
to be already well launched.
The expense of building this Ameri-
can Bayreuth on the Hudson will ap-
proxlmate 81 100000. which could well
come within Nine. Nordica's fortune,
but while she will bear a good share
of II, and has already made the initial
outlays, such as the purchase of the
land, etc. II is believed that the Amer
lean public will join in the financial
part Of the undertaking. II is the in.
tention to make the opera season
and this season will, after the insti.
tuition is well under way, continue the
year around, including the summer
not only a high social function. but
ular prices of admission will be
charged, so that all lovers of classic
music may have an opportunity 10
crafty their tastes. But the social
part will be one OF the leading fea
lures of the musical festival.
Arrangements have been made for
the sale OF 16 boxes at $4,000 each
regular admission prices 10 be charged
to the occupants of the boxes. Three
| IF these boxes have already been sold
and 1t is believed there will be no diff
fculty in disposing of the others
When the opera is in full operation
II is believed It will be self.sustaining
There will also be a musical college
In connection with the institution and
| buildings will be erected for class
rooms and dormitOries for the pupils
In short, the entire plan-theoretical
ly and practically-wlll be carried oui
along the lines of the musical institu
tion at Bayreuth. II will probably re
qulre an endowment fund of about
$3,O00,O 900 to aid in carrying on the
schools and other departments,
Nine. Nordica will devote the re
malnder Of her life TO this project. Sh'
will be the active manager, of the en-
terprise and will take prominen
part in the conduct of the school ant
the opera festivals. singing in leadinl
roles, and attending to many of tn
details.
The institution that she has take
as her model is located at Bayreuth
which is the capital of the government
district of Upper Francouia. Bavaria
at one time principality under tn
rule of Margrayes. OF the house OF Ho
henzollern. Bayrepth is about ~
miles north of Munich, and is th'
Mecca of the Wagnerltss. as the Wag
ner theater was built there especial!
for the performance of his operas
This theater was erected 32 years ago
on a hill, reached by broad street o
shady trees. The former residence o
Richard Wagner, the villa Wahnfried
is not far away Wagner is buried IL
the grounds. There is also the hous'
of Jean Paul Richter. whose body lie
In the Central cemetery near that O
Franz Liszt. The building of the Was
ner Festival theater was the drear
of Wagner's life. and to carry out hi
plans he secured the aid OF King Loul
II of Bavaria. which. with small sui
scrlptions from the music lovers
made the proposition practicable.
AS Nine. Schumann-Heink says. on
can not hope to reproduce the exaC
Wagnerian atmosphere along with tn
Wagnerian buildings at Harmon -oI