File:Behind the scenes. Siegfried's Forge.jpg

Identifier: wagnerslifeworks01kobb (find matches)
Title: Wagner's life and works
Year: 1896 (1890s)
Authors: Kobbé, Gustav, 1857-1918
Subjects: Wagner, Richard, 1813-1883 Composers
Publisher: New York : G. Schirmer
Contributing Library: Harold B. Lee Library
Digitizing Sponsor: Brigham Young University

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s arrangement is that it places in the monster aperson whose attention is concentrated upon workingthis mechanical property in the best possible manner.The dragon when not in commission is stabled inmid-air under the paint bridge. The day of the per-formance it is lowered by ropes, thoroughly groomed,and then allowed to stretch itself out upon the flooragainst the rear wall and lie there until the end of thefirst act. The first act of Siegfried depends for its pictu-resqueness more on the successful management ofthe gas effects than on any other element of the per-formance. To gas this act is an exceedingly difficultproblem, for in its course a great variety of light ef-fects are introduced, a number of them simultaneous-ly. For instance, no less than three different kinds oflighting come into play together every time Siegfriedin the forging scene fans the fire with the bellows. Intheatrical parlance the bellows has to be practicallygassed ; which means that the flaring up of the fire
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BAYREUTH 129 and its fitful gleaming upon the surrounding objectsmust be imitated. The manner in which these effectswere produced is shown in the illustration of the rearview of the forge. This forge is a framework, thefront, sides and top being covered. Sunk into the topis a space for a gas jet, a piece of split gas pipe and atube leading into a box immediately underneath,which is filled with lycopodium powder. A personlying under the forge takes a rubber tube, which leadsfrom this box into his mouth. On the forge is a box painted to resemble a stone.In it are six incandescent electric lights behind apiece of red gelatine. The wire for these runs froma pocket in the wing. Near this is also the gaspocket from which the tube for supplying the gas jetand split pipe issues and runs along the stage to thehearth. The gas jet is lighted before the curtainrises. In the wings a man with a mirror stands nearan electric light. What occurs when Siegfried pullsthe handle of the bellows is as foll

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