Identifier: richardwagnerhis02jull (find matches)
Title: Richard Wagner : his life and works
Year: 1892 (1890s)
Authors: Jullien, Adolphe, 1845-1932 Hall, Florence Percival, tr
Subjects: Wagner, Richard, 1813-1883
Publisher: Boston : J.B. Millet
Contributing Library: Harold B. Lee Library
Digitizing Sponsor: Brigham Young University

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t depreciating Wagners innovation — is placed, as usual, in front of the stage but considerably below it, the loudestinstruments being given the lowest level. A sort of light wooden semi-arch, orelongated hood similar to our prompters box, runs the whole length of the stage,and entirely conceals from the audience the orchestra and its leader; the latter,however, is in full sight of all the musicians and singers. The result of thisarrangement proved to be very favorable. It was feared, says Dannreuther, that such a disposition would destroy the delicate effects of the orchestra; it wasfound, on the contrary, that the most subtle details were perfectly perceptible, andthat the reed instruments were heard more distinctly than ever; furthermore, theforte passages, which ordinarily seemed to proceed from a sudden explosion oftrumpets and trombones, were somewhat refined, and thus responded to Wagnersdesire. At times, indeed, these seemed to certain auditors a little too subduedand sweet.
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260 RICHARD WAGNER But where was this model theatre to be constructed ? Onthis point Wagner hesitated. While desiring to remain onBavarian territory, in order to preserve the advantages whichthe royal protection offered him, he was not favorably in-clined to Munich, whose population was always hostile tohim ; for his dearest ambition now, was to obtain an execu-tion of his Trilogy, far away from all political, religious, orother rivalries. It was this which made him fix upon alittle town of twenty thousand inhabitants, insufficient toform an audience, but far from all enmities, sheltered fromall prejudices, traditions and customs. In the month of April,1871, he visited Bayreuth, and on the 9th of November ofthe same year, having taken counsel with such friends asFeustel, Gross, etc., he decided that his model theatreshould be erected in this tranquil, out-of-the-way spot. The municipality of Bayreuth, a city three quarters Pro-testant, and devoted to the national liberal party, could

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