ner saw the dream of his life take the form of reality. He had
everything at his command,--a theatre specially constructed for his
purpose; a stage which in size, scenery, mechanical arrangements, and
general equipment, has not its equal in the world; an array of artists
the best that Europe could produce; an orchestra almost literally
composed of virtuosi. The audience which gathered at these
performances--composed of princes, illustrious men in every department
of science and culture, and prominent musicians from all parts of the
world--was one of which any composer might have been proud, while the
representation itself marked an epoch in musical history, and
promulgated a new system of laws destined to affect operatic
composition ever after.

The casts of the various portions of the trilogy upon this memorable
occasion were as follows:

DAS RHEINGOLD. (PRELUDE.)

WOTAN | (Herr BETZ.
DONNER | (Herr GURA.
| Gods
FROH | (Herr UNGER.
LOGE | (Herr VOGL.

FASOLT | (Herr EILERS.
| Giants
FAFNER | (Herr VON REICHENBERG.

ALBERICH | (Herr HILL.
| Nibelungs
MIME | (Herr SCHLOSSER.

FRICKA | (Frau VON GRUEN-SADLER.
FREIA |Goddesses (Frl. HAUPT.
ERDA | (Frau JAEIDA.

Woglinde ) ( Frl. Lilly Lehmann.
Wellgunde ) Rhine daughters ( Frl. Marie Lehmann.
Flosshilde ) ( Frl. Lammert.

DIE WALKUERE.

SIEGMUND Herr NIEMANN.
HUNDING Herr NIERING.
WOTAN Herr BETZ.
SIEGLINDE Frl. SCHEFZKY.
BRUENNHILDE Frau FRIEDRICH-MATERNA.
FRICKA Frau VON GRUEN-SADLER.

SIEGFRIED.

SIEGFRIED Herr UNGER.
MIME Herr SCHLOSSER.
DER WANDERER Herr BETZ.
ALBERICH Herr HILL.
FAFNER Herr VON REICHENBERG.
ERDA Frau JAEIDA.
BRUENNHILDE Frau FRIEDRICH-MATERNA

DER GOETTERDAEMMERUNG.

SIEGFRIED Herr UNGER.
GUNTHER Herr GURA.
HAGEN Herr VON REICHENBERG.
ALBERICH Herr HILL.
BRUENNHILDE Frau FRIEDRICH-MATERNA.
GUTRUNE Frl. WECKERLIN.
WALTRAUTE Frau JAEIDA.

The motive of the drama turns upon the possession of a ring of magic
qualities, made of gold stolen from the Rhine daughters by Alberich,
one of the Nibelungen, who dwelt in Nebelheim, the place of mists.
Th