Best Herr Unger!
Don't worry—carry through unswervingly what is due to yourself and your art! No wavering now!
To get an honorable release from Dir. Scherbarth would be nice, I myself have even tried it, appealing to his sense of honor as an artist, his human reasonableness; of course he replied that these things don't concern him as director of a theater and he can't agree with my demands. Thereupon I bluntly answered that it would be more reasonable to agree, for if he doesn't release you voluntarily it would have to be against his will. We would then await his complaint and defend ourselves against him; but if he should behave decently, with the real purpose in mind, you would surely show yourself grateful toward him, which wouldn't be difficult for you as a singer of great reputation. When he saw that he could not achieve anything in this way, he decided to warn you through a lawyer, and your answer was just right. What now remains to be done about Scherbarth? It will be difficult for him to declare you simply as a contract breaker; if he takes some vicious action, I shall be there to enlighten the public. I think, however, he won't miss the occasion to trim himself up and to parade before his public with our correspondence. That would be very good indeed, and would leave me little more to say. Neither your relation to me nor to Scherbarth can hurt you. Until you take a fixed engagement again, he won't be able to extort many fines and the like from you. What would be needed at once must be provided by me. So you may await the next development confidently. If it comes to a lawsuit, well, all the better. It will take its time; it can't turn out absolutely unfavorable for us; and by the time a decision has been reached, your engagement will have ended and you will have become Siegfried. Don't bother with anything in the world but your studies, which should bring you joy, honor, and glory. The Düsseldorfer may meanwhile have his beard shaved: it may be a misfortune for him, but who is without misfortunes?
On my journey to Vienna I shall reach Munich on the 30th of this month, at night, and stay there for one day (31st). My friend Hey will be kind enough to provide lodging for me for twenty-four hours in the Hotel Marienbad (the Jahreszeiten is situated too openly on the street near the theater, etc.). I need two rooms each with one bed, and two rooms each with two beds (children and governess), also two servants' rooms for valet and parlormaid. Don't tell anybody else about my arrival, especially from the theater. You will also get to know Seidl in time, but it would be advisable to procure a good pianist in Munich. We will talk about it. Now keep up your courage and feel as safe as in Levi's (I should say Abraham's) bosom. Greet and praise in my name the excellent Basilio, Meister Hey! Auf Wiedersehen!
Yours very truly
Richard Wagner
Source: Letters of Richard Wagner: The Burrell Collection, ed. John N. Burk (Macmillan, 1950), No. 331