Final answer:
The Bayreuth Festspielhaus is a theater commissioned by Richard Wagner for the purpose of showcasing his music dramas. It brought a significant technological advance in the form of the orchestra pit. The Etherphone, invented by Léon Theremin, is commonly known as the Theremin today.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Bayreuth Festspielhaus is a theater located in Bayreuth, Germany. It was commissioned by the German composer Richard Wagner and was specifically designed to showcase his music dramas. The purpose of the Festspielhaus was to create a space where Wagner's operas could be performed in their intended form, with a separate orchestra pit that allowed the music to support the action on stage without being visible to the audience.
A significant technological advance brought by the Bayreuth Festspielhaus was the invention of the orchestra pit. This innovation allowed for a clearer separation between the performers on stage and the musicians, enhancing the overall theatrical experience. By lowering the orchestra from the stage and distancing it from the performers, Wagner aimed to reduce competition between the actors' voices and the music from the instruments.
The Etherphone, also known as the Theremin, was invented by Russian inventor and musician Léon Theremin in the 1920s. Its original purpose was to create a new musical instrument that could be played without physical contact, using electromagnetic fields to produce sound. Today, the Etherphone, or Theremin, is commonly known as one of the earliest electronic musical instruments.