The Denver Jewish news., 1921-06-22
A French View Of Baireuth
Copyright by Victor Neuhaus)

NJ. Charles Jolly, the brilliant re.
porter of the Figaro" gives the fol.
lowing account of his visit to Bair-
cuth:
BE blessed, oh my Stone! Remain
firm and remain long.' These words
which Richard Wagner spoxe to the
accompanying hammerstrokes as he
be laid the corner stone for his future
theatre, May, 1872, it may be remem-
bered, caused much merriment at that
time. And. indeed, this project must
have appeared absurd. 1t is difficult
to understand how maj, whose work
and whose personality was the center
of violent opposition could have had
the temerity of building on hill
near dull provincial town temple
which should be devoted solely to the
presentation of his own plays. For
what did the loyalty of a small group
of faithful friends, or the notorious
patronage of monarch, who owing
to this patronage, was considered of
ui,sOund mind, count against his gen
cral unpOpularity?
When four years later this theater
WAS impressively opened for the first
presentation of the Nibeiungen Ring, |
it is not surprising that a French
writer said, '.Within SIX months this
thcater will be turned into Tuner
hall. Twenty years have passed since
this prophecy was uttered. The tenn
pie on the hill;- striking by its very |
simplicity, still stands, and probably |
will, for long time to come. Each |
time its doors are opened. pilgrims
from every land hasten to be present |
mt the celebration of the mysteries en- |
acted there. The Wagnerian cult is
not subsiding; in fact. 1t really seems
that the more his works are being dis |
seminated, the more of his adherents
may be found in Baireuth. As we
have often maintained, there is a |
Wagnerian religion. and the greatest
achievement to be credited to the au-
thor of Parsifal is that thru his music |
he has revived the fashion Of making |
pilgrimages.
As in ancient days, attracted by re-
ligious or theatrical festivals, the
Greeks pilgrimed to Aiypmia, the
MoIiammedans to Mecca, and the
Israclites to Jerusalem: even so. does
the art-inspired public journey to the
theater ut Baireuth to nonor thcir
hero Wagner. This illusion of pill
grimage is even strengthened by the
architectural style Of the theatre.
which awakens the glorious memories
of old Greece.
We must admit fashion also plays
its part. and all of the pilgrims are
not faithful believers; many would
be bored at the mysteries of Parsi-
fal. Some would. not admit this; 9TH
crs acknowledge it freely. Yet, 1t
must be admitted that 1t was only
thru the disciples that Baireuth was
called to life, and is thus maintain
ed There is no better argument to
he used against those opponents who
think the Wagner cult fad than
this sincere character of this art.
certain number of these followers re-
turn year after year. Many OF tho
first pilgrims are dead, many other
faithful adherents are afraid their
first overpowering impression may be
shattered, and so do not risk re-
turn: jealously guarding their preci-
Gus memories. they remain at home.
New pilgrims constantly replace
both the absent and the dead. They
come from all lands and by every
Iona I'm,
direct way. all others taking cir
cuitous routes. Some by way of the
Kotlensee. with its charming coast
lines, others up the Rhine, whose rocky
lnnks. crowned with the medieval
ruins Ioox like the setting of roman
tic drama. Does not such trip
have an influence upon us, make us
more amiable, more receptive to sweet
sensations? And is not u pleasure
which we have to seek at so great
distance, longed for and accepted with
much greater alacrity? We must take
many annoyances into the bargain,
which cannot be avoided i'll noisy
crowd, At Nurnberg the numbers be-
gin to grow so large that the over
crowded coupes refuse to hold the
lrople, but that does not disturb the
prevailing good humof. Some coupes
occupied by groups of ycung and pret-
ty Americans, nearly resemble aviar-
les; others, occupied by jealous musical
disciples. resound with motives of the
different works of the master, and in
the few where silence holds sway one
NAV be assured the occupants are
studying the text of 'The Ring" or