The theatre was completed in 1876, and in the month of August (13-16) Wagner 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.  This ring, the symbol of all earthly power, was at the same time to bring a curse upon all who possessed it.  Wotan, of the race of the gods, covetous of power and heedless of the curse which follows it, obtained the ring from Alberich by force and cunning, and soon