New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-07-02

-.aed upon him. 1T was precisely
M ,age over the tinker" he says, that'
in a moment Of agitation, gave me the
theme for Siegfried's furious outourst
against the bungling Mime" He recalls
how AT Venice he was persuaded by
Wesendonck to visit the Academia
building which on previous visit he had
known only from the outside. I'm spite
of all nv indifference" he continues, Il
must confess that the Assumption or
the Virgin by Titan exercised most
sublime influence over me, so that as
! soon as realized it's conception. my old
movers revived within me, as though by
q sudden flash Of inspiration. l deter
mined at once on the composition OF
the 'Meistersinger.' Characterlsucally'
too. he goes on to explain how he forth
fed his inspiration by study. L urged
my friend 10 procure me material Tor
mastering the subject of the Meister-
singer My first idea was TO make
thorough study of Grimm's controversy
on the Song of the Meistersinger,' and
the next question was how TO get hold OF
old Wagenseirs Nuremberg Chronicle
There is a notable passage illustrating
his sublime confidence, his convic-
ton that he must do this work precisely
as he wished TO do it and in no other
way Rejecting on the methods in
vogue among German theatres and opera
oh mi, al 20
the full development Of his conceptions.
he sturdily exclaims: Il remained un-
shaken i'm my resolve 10 produce my
'Nibelungen' dramas just as though the
present operate stage did not exist,
since the ideal theatre of my dreams
must of necessity come sooner or later"
This from the composer who had with
glee heard a bather in the river at Pima
phistlng an air from "Tannhauser."
welcoming il as the first sign of the
possibility OF popularizing the work,
which l had with such difficulty sue
ceeded in getting performed in Dres-
den" His expectations Of the future
were illimitable. Meanwhile he made
the best of a day OF small things. How
small they sometimes were we may see
from this amusing and touching story
OF the rehearsals which paved the way
for the successful performance of Ri
enzP':
soon felt myself in a state of constant
eXhilaration: favorite passages were
greeted with reclamation by the singers
at every rehearsal, and a concerted num-
Der OF the third finale. which unfortunate
| ~ had afterward 10 bee omitted owing 10
! it's length. actually became on that occa-
| sion a source OF profit 10 me. For Itch
atschek maintained that this b minor was
SO lovely that something ought 10 be paid
| for il every time. and he Eut down u
\ silver penny. inviting the others TO do the
same. 10 which they all responded merrily.
| From that day forward. whenever we
came to this passage at rehearsals the cry
was raised Here comes the silver penny
| partr and Schroeder Devrient as she took
hearsals would ruin her. This gratuity
was couscientiOusly handed 20 me each
time, and no one suspected that these con-
! tributiOns. which We're given as "A Joke
We're often a very welcome help toward
defraying the cost Of our daily food
Music lovers who have listened To one
Of Wagner's glorious works and have
wondered for their sins. IL II would ever
have the grace 10 come To an end, will
smile ruefuly over his account OF this
production OF "Rienz" and his manic
when 1t lasted from o'clock till past IL