My dearest Friend!
You are not yet rid of me, for I address you again in order to repeat my increased thanks for your beautiful performance of my Lohengrin. I have had more first-hand reports from ear-witnesses who can't tell me enough about the excellence, subtlety, and beauty of this performance; and all of them agree that a performance with finer means, with greater zeal, and under better conducting could hardly be imagined. Nor can I resist expressing my pleasure in some special lines to Herr Ander, whose artistic performance was appreciated by everybody. Please convey my special gratitude to all of the singers, of whom I have heard only the best. The warm, heartfelt rendition of Frau Meyer-Dustmann's part was known to me for a long time. She was the first and most staunch mainstay of my opera in Vienna. But now I learn about the marvellously successful performance of the Ortrud by Fräulein Csillag too, about the splendor and energy of Herr Beck's performance as Telramund, and of the representation of the King by Herr Schmidt, also the indescribable euphony and beauty of the choruses, and finally about the orchestra's accomplishment, which couldn't be imagined as more perfect. My dearest friend, I am overjoyed and would like to embrace you before the artists, and tell you there how all this encourages and delights me! So these lines can be nothing else than an exclamation of joy and thanks. To speak of this from the bottom of my heart is an incredible delight to me, and you, my dear, should be the first to hear it. So let's cheer the Zürich visit which led to such a beautiful end in Vienna! I hope we'll soon meet again, so that I may greet you as a deserving friend upon the battlefield of honor. And now, don't forget to express my cordial greetings and warmest thanks to Director Eckert for his great share in this noble satisfaction rendered to me. Thinking of all of you, I feel as if I were in heaven. Farewell, and be assured always of the most sincere and obliging friendship.
Faithfully yours,
Richard Wagner
Source: Letters of Richard Wagner: The Burrell Collection, ed. John N. Burk (Macmillan, 1950), No. 196