Most honoured friend,
Before leaving Bayreuth today I must first let you know, without further delay, the chief result of my investigations, inasmuch that, following our visit to the theatre, it turns out that this theatre is the most fantastical roccoco building that could possibly exist, and that nothing about it can be altered in the least detail. And since this theatre can in no way fulfil the purpose for which I intended it, I have forthwith abandoned my wish to use it for my stage festival. I say this first and foremost for your information, and perhaps also to reassure those people who have been alarmed by the idea that I might have wished to destroy any part of what, in its way, is a quite unique building. -
In what way this theatre, too, may later be put to some noble use in the event that favourable progress is made on this great undertaking of mine - this is something on which I shall reserve comment until the appropriate time.
For the rest I shall say only that Bayreuth and its surroundings has entirely lived up to my hopes, so that I remain firmly attached to the idea of settling here, and continue to combine with that wish a desire to realize my great enterprise here too. My efforts in this latter direction, however, can continue to relate to Bayreuth only if, on the other hand, I remain assured of my royal benefactor’s gracious favour in the event of my settling here. I am therefore anxious to learn from you, my most honoured friend, in what spirit His Majesty deigned to receive the overtures which I made to you in person. It would be safest if you wrote to me in Berlin (Potsdamer Platz, Hotel du Parc). I intend to arrive there on the 24th inst., having first stayed in Leipzig (with Professor H. Brockhaus, Querstrasse 15), where I hope to recover somewhat from a violent illness which has kept me in bed for half the time I have been here.
With the sincerest good wishes from me and my wife, I would ask you at the same time to accept this assurance of my warmest gratitude for your continuing friendship, and the very real esteem of
Your devoted servant
Richard Wagner
Source: Selected Letters of Richard Wagner, trans. and ed. Stewart Spencer and Barry Millington (W. W. Norton & Company, 1988), No. 400