The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-01-02
FIVE CITIES HEAR
WAGNER'S 'PARSIFAL'
Ba,rcuth Opera Produced in
New York, Berlin, Paris.
Rome and Bologna.
OPERA NOT NEW HERE
II Was First Put On at the
Metropolitan Ten
Years Ago.

wasners opera "Parsifal" on which the
pa,rcu,h copyright expired at wcdncs-
DAY midnight. was produced in three Euro
paiu capitals as well as in New York yes
'orday. Berlin. Paris. Rome and Bologna
heard the opera yesterday for the FIRST
time although 1t WAS first produced here
ten years ago.
The first performance Of "Parsifal' in
America and anywhere outside Of the
restspiclhaus at Bayreuth was given on
december 20. 1903. at the Metropolitan
Opera House.
when Heinrich Conried. then director
of the Metropolitan. announced on his
return from Europe in the spring OF
1898 his intention TO produce "Parsifar
here. Frau Cosima Wagner and the whole
company Of Wagneriaps abroad threw up
their hands In horror. Frau Wagner
cabled statements to America and tele-
sraphcd statements to Germany declaring
that Herr Conried's purpose was lacking
IN reverence and illegal" and that she
would order his prosecution II he per-
.,si.d ir producing tho opera
Frau Wagner reminded the world that
the master had expressly stated in his
will that Parsfal must he given only at
Bayreuth. and she declared that per-
formance in America, far from the
sanctty Of the Wagnerian wellspring.
would be nothing short OF Dissertation.
10 ray nothing OF the legal side OF the
question.
Mr.. Conried in his turn asserted
through interviews published in this
country and abroad that as there was
no American copyright on the opera he
had as much license to produce IL as any
other Wagner opera.
The reason II has never been pro-
duced outside of Bayreuth.' he said. lis
pecuniary az well as a sentimental one.
], is true that Wagner expressed a wish
before his death that y should never be
presented In any other place, but think
Il s due his memory that 1t should he
heard here. where there are millions of
admirers of the composer who would
never hear it otherwise"
Herr Conriod said that he had offered
ltau Wagner $4,000 for her consent to
produce "Parsifar' in America. but that
k.' nAu stcdtIaStlN refused + lldllN III
AUGUST OF 1898 proceedings for an inJunc-
ton were begun in the Federal courts.
u,j Judge t.acombe decided there was
TO ground for The injunction And so
"patsifil" was given with Felix Motif
rs conductor Anton Fuchs OF Munich as
sage manager and Carl Lautenschlager
n' the I'riuz Cement. utheat.r. Munich, as
technical director. Milka Tcrnind created
the PAR; OF kuadry and Alloys Burgstalley
'ho part of pdrSitdi The performance
made II profound impression upon the
American musical world. Conductor
Wcugartner of the Royal Imperial Cour'
opera OF Vienna was present and Joined
~ the congratulations showcred on Con
rieA.
Eleven performances of the opera had
been given by February. 1905. and tn
r"ocipts. according to Il statement givel
out by Herr Conried himself totaled
tiNG30S, an average of sI6931 a perform
ance. The opera was performed eight
times during the next season. and sine,
then IL has been the special order of tho
day on Christmas, New Years and Coco
Friday.