The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-03-29
Dates of Representations of Wagners Dramas Next Sum-
ner.-Prices of Seats at Different Performances
Advice as to Hotel Rooms and Restaurants

| Is the conversation. II one understands
German no will ind much to- chain his
attention: but even II he does not. there
In much TO be heard In English. Many
British visitors 20 to Bayreuth. and
| some OF the American teachers Of sing
| Ing resident In Europe go with some OF
| their pupils. II is Instructive to catch
bits OF their comments on the doings on
the stage.
Another thing makes Dayreuth
unique. The place Is secluded, and
! wagnertan drama IL its life during the
| festival There Is nothing to distract
the mind from that. Bayreuth lives,
moves and has It's being In Wagner. and
the glory Of It's year Ii the time OF
the performances. The theatre Itself
IL closed and darkened while each act
is going on. No one may enter or leave
the auditorium then. Perfect silence
prevails Woe be to him wao dares
even to whisper to his neighbor.
Since every one has gone there solely
for the purpose OF hearing the dramas,
there Is a tense absorption which COM
municatcs itself to all in the auditorium
in such a way that uniformity Of mood
and mental attitude II attained. This 10
the famous atmosphere" Of which one
nedTs HO HlutI1. II 10 PoSStoic w hhe -
elsewhere, but not often. 1t Is found
sometimes at "Parsifal' performances
at the Metropolitan and its influence
leaves one with the impression that he
has assisted at a historical ceremonial.
A correspondent Of THE SCH COM
planned vigorously few days ago OF the
comments made on the delivery Of the
English text In the Century Opera
House performance Of "Tlenand." He
declared that he had no trouble in
understanding all Of II except that
which was obscured by the nature of the
music itself and ne minated that The
SrS's reviewer did not know that this
difficulty existed.
1t Is amusing to observe the position
taken by those to whom critical COM
ment Is dlstasteful. Most Of them write
letters 10 the editor Of the paper to In
form him that his music reviewer Is
ignorant Of his business. Now when
man has devoted his life to the study OF
an art and finds himself thinking Of It's
problems even in his waking hours at
night he Is hardly likely to be ignorant.
He may be mistaken, because any man
can he that.
But with a pair Of natural good musi-
cal ears and a long training in the oc-
cupation OF listening to opera one ought
to be fairly competent to decide whether
the text is clearly delivered or not.
good deal OF the text OF "Tleiiand' was
unirtelligible to this writer, and another
gooi.y portion of 1t was perfectly clear.
But the correspondent neglected to note
that the reviewer called attention to the
fact that some OF the text was not well
LAa Tod
for efftinciation.
English IL not an easy language to
use In the opera libretto. II requires
much skill. on the part OF the libretiis,
to write text which shall be perfectly
slngab.e and easily enunciated. II Is
fortunate that IL the former Of these
two things Is accomplished the latter
will take care Of itself. but the converse
II not the case.
This writer called attention to the
use OF the word "extinEuished' by Pedro
In reference to the light in Mdrthd's
chamber The comment was on the un-
suitability OF the word AZ coming from
the mouth OF a mountain shepherd who
would better have spoken in simpler
sty.e But the word also serves as an
excellent example of the fact that clear
enunc!ation and good singing do not
aIn,a,,. 90 hand in hand "Extinxuished'
- 80. 80, ~ arnnc,a,e hu, /, IA n
=, a., 90 ,,,.,.
,,.ra, nc,as;nns Tho nature n,
r,,,.S 49,, has ho.r a,scu.,s., hare
49,, So 49,, 90 - ho dor. hy . rsns,I,,or
- ~ ~ ,u,, fn,d,,,o,t,i thoughts
~. ,,r,,.r y, ,.x, Gov ,,,,.,c has m con.
} an,ra,a h,s r,,na IN Tho selec,,or n,
-, ,,h,oh onn,,,,, yncablss sounds
,,,h,o, .i,h.r ar. m. roo,. ~ tone ar ,hs
a....ar,.. 4, 7, I. ma, ro.slhIs ~
sIns r or On the other hand. som,
- Nv u,,,d. ard nasa,s unite we,
,,.,,h ,ou,ais which are the real ton,
-.
|, Gov .xamn,s nro,onv IN,
,ms 80 ,ha shor, In "s,ng" and carr,
soa,ao ir,n IN. w." words IKE
..,ona co." ana .ro,i" are ,horouebi,
| -, 49,, ,ra canrot do much viii
! - ,,.ra. q, "hIt "fat" or "nu,
, Wa,ar,h.,ss. ~. ,,,o., c,rsory .xamina
,,or -, nn.ra,,o ,syts IN E,rc,,sh wi,
-. ,,a rosder ,h.t trans,ators ar
oon,,r,ar,. asLira sIryer. IN marap
} such combinations and that. too. no, in
; frequently on long notes.