The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-07-26
THE BIC FESTIVAL
 IN NBAYREUTH 4 TOPIC
 IN MUSICAL CIRCLES
A MINIATURE sAYREUTH DISCUSSED BY BIRMINGHAM WOMEN
 NOTES ABOUT LOCAL MusIcIANs-socAL HAPPENINGS
BY MYRTLE MILES.

On Wednesday of this week occurred She initial concert of the music festival which is held every year in Bayreuth' situated in Oberfrancken, Germany. This -eealls the story of the festivals told by a Birmingham musician who, while not fortunate enough to attend one, was Tn Germany a few years ago at the time the festival occurred in Bayreuth, and has kept in touch with them since. The stu dent who does have the opportunity to visit these at such time is blessed, in- deed. Nothing could be a greater inspira- ton than the veritable feast of Wagnerian opera which is served up in the little town al this period of the year. Bayreuth Is said to have had it's period of splendor during the seventeenth and the beginning of the eighteenth centuries when tt was The home of the Margrayes. It IS now considered a fine provincial town and ln oeed the stories of it show that it becomes very animated each season preceding ana curing the performances given at lhe Festival theatre, which is opened only one month of each year.
 Only the great music dramas Of Rlch- ard Wagner are given in this theatre, anu only the greatest artists of the world are
 
 ances. Even in the chorus of l2O volces' each Is a fine singer, and the leading roles are given to artists of generally interna- tional reputation The orchestra is com posed of concert players and directors from all parts of the world.
 These artists begin to arrive about a month before the first performance. The rehearsals are daily and last all day long,
 The opening night this year was July ,ey,sf,7 eriN Walker, the American singer, whose per forraance of Isolde in London was said to be "the finest London ever witnessed, is to sing "Ortrud," Fraulem, Edel, ..Elsaa and Dr. Alfred von Bary, "Lo- hengrin.'
 Including the one given this week. there will be five performances of Lohengrln, the other dates being August 5, F and l9. On Thursday evening, July 2S, Parsifal was presented. This will be repeated six more times-August 1, 4, ', s, Il and 2o Two performances of the Ring des Nibehungen" will be given, each per formanee requiring four evenings, one for each of the following: "Das Rneln- gold" Die Wall1ure,' "Gotterdaln- n4erung" will be given at intervals.
 The directors of the orchestra are, of course. the finest to be had. They will be Dr. Harris Richter, Dr. Karl Muck, Michael Ballany and Siegfried Wagner.
 Imagine an orchestra composed only or celebrities gathered from the best that many countries can give, and comprising S3 vielins F 'cellos, nine passes hVe fhites, five oboes, one English horn, Iour ciarinets one bass clarinet, five Fagotts, n horns four tenor and bass tuber, five .rumpets, seven harps, three drums, lS violas and five trombones. The chorus contains B womens voices and-61 men. It is said that during the period of prepara- tion all the activity of the town IS con centrated in the neighborhood Of the res tival theatre. There is scarcely tune TOT the artists to return to their respective homes for the dinner hour and they all assemble in a little restaurant nearpy which is bedeeked with Bavarian eolors and serves French dinner.
 Here Brunhilde eats with Lohengrin; the beautiful Elsa. takes glass of beer with Mimi, and Parsifal is "in no wise terrified by the presence of the mower maidens"
 Suddenly upon the arrival of a carriage drawn hy two white horses, every artist is up and back again at work, for the lady that sits therein is none other than Frau Wagner, the ''inspirer and oracle' of this great theatre
 The rehearsals are always private until what is called the "general' rehearsals' of each work These take place just be-
 
 ner invites her friends and tf> families of the artists who have no seats during the season, for the seats are all reserved for strangers.
 Between acts everyone goes out into the open air for a promenade. although the ventilation of the theatre is perfect and one never experiences asphyxiating sen- sations on returning.
 At the end of the performance the nu- merous restaurants become crowded and here the artists receive perfect ovations upon entering, for everyone rises spon- taneously and gives vent to the loud and long applause forbidden in the theatre.
 No artist ever appears on the stage to receive the plaudits of his admirers. At the end of a performance it is allowed, in appreciation of the work itself In Parsifal, however, even this is forbidden.
 There are occasionally days of rest for the artists between performances and on these days pleasant excursions may be made to Berneck, the Ermitage The Fan taisie or other attractions near at hand.
 If fortunate enough to be acquainted with Frau Wagner, one might be invited to visit Wahnfried, Frau Wagner's home --the home of the Master This house is built in the style of a Roman villa. Just aoove the entrance is an alegoricaI fresct representing Wotan and his two ravens with the muses, Tragedy and Music, on