THE SINGER's HALL the Wartburg in Thuringia Was the Model for The

THE S I NGE R 'S HALL

The Wartburg in Thuringia was the model for the castle Neuschwansrein and e~pccially for the Singer's Hall. The paintings in the hall itself and around the listener's gallery show decails of the Parzifal saga, the subject of Richard Wagner's most important opera. Most of the paintings are done by Spief?. and Piloty, whereas the stage-scenery ,,Kling­ sor's magic forest" is painted by the Munich painter Chri­ stian Jank, who also made the first designs for the building and the interior equipment of Neuschwanstein. Above both doors beside the stage are the arms of the royal family with the latin inscription: "Ludwig II. King of Bavaria , Pfalz­ graf (Count Pa latine)". This inscription is the only refe­ rence to the builder. The angular and panelled pine wood ceiling gives the hall very good acoustic qualities.

In Kings Ludwig's lifetime the hall was never used, only in 1933 festive concerts were arranged on occasion of the 50th anniversary of Richard Wagner 's death and musical , events of this kind have been repeated for many years. The last concert was arranged in 1952 with the symphony orchestra of Bamberg. D uring these concerts the hall was illuminated by the light of 600 candles. The gallery and the Loggia above the stage were reserved for guests. The plat­ form in front of the balcony door originally had been assigned for the King's seat.