The famous Paris fiasco of Tannhnuser oc curred in March, 1861. The hostile demonstra tions which resulted in its withdrawal after three performances were instigated by the Jockey Club, partly because Wagner refused to introduce a ballet. partly to show disrespect toward the Em peror. who, at the urging of Princess Metternich, had commanded the production. But the treatment accorded Wagner made a hero of him in Ger many and the ban of exile was lifted from him, except in Saxony, where lie was not amnestied until later. On May 15. 1861, in Vienna, he heard Lodi nnrin for the first time. He had been obliged 1,, wait thirteen years after its com position tor this privilege.
Wagner now took up Die Meistersinger. As early as 1845 lie had sketched the story as a hrunorous -curet to Tannhauser. He worked on the score at Biebrieb and also at Penzing. near Vienna. where in 180 be published his Iiliclung (lrainas. expressing the hope that the bounty of some German ruler would the production of his work possible. But in the spring of 1864, worn out by his struggle with poverty and broken in spirit. lie determined to give up his public ea reel. and eagerly grasped the opportunity to visit. a private yountry seat in Switzerland. On a &tint). to Stuttgart he was found there by a messetger from King Ludwig of Bavaria, and thus, at perhaps the most critical and darkest moment of his life, he received promise of the aid which was to enable him to realize Ids artistic was produced in Munich in June, 1865, after most exacting rehearsals under Vim Int gigues at Court and in musical cireles forecd agner to leave Munich, and he took tip hits residence near Lucerne. The King, however,
continued his steadfast patron, and Die Meister Ninacr eon \ tirnbcra prodneed. Jima 21, 1568, :0 t10• Bavarian capital. where in 1860 80 1870 /00inyoid :001 Walkiire also were given.
In l'?70. Wagner. his first wife having died January 25, 186(3, married Billow's divorced wife, cosima. a daughter of Liszt and the Countess d'Agoult. Bayreuth having been determined on as the site for the theatre to be built for the produc tion of the Ring, Wagner took up his residence there in April. 1872. At last. twenty-eight years after its conception, August 13, 14, IC, and 17, 1876, The Ring of the :Vibelung was performed at Bayreuth. In June. 1882, Pansifal was produced. In the autumn of that year. Wagner's health being poor, he left. his Bayreuth villa, •Wahnfried,' for Venice. On February 13, 1883, he died there of heart disease at the Palazzo Vendramin. He is buried in a vault in the garden of 'Walinfried.'