Dear friend,
The question which I have put to you and Niemann today is one on whose favourable reply depends the possibility of our repeating the performances in Bayreuth, namely whether you can give me another, say, 6 weeks of your time next summer, whereby I accept that, for my part, I shall undertake the said performances only if I can promise to pay you very substantial compensation, the level of which you yourself will specify.
To my most lasting and most grievous regret you were the only person on this occasion who went away without saying goodbye to me! It was the second occasion on which you had robbed me of the purest satisfaction of being able to express, loudly and freely, a recognition and gratitude such as I have had cause to grant to very few people in my life. The first occasion was at the banquet after the first performance when I had intended to speak on the subject of the unique character of German art and its disciples, their energetic enthusiasm and consuming devotion to the task they had been set and by means of which the most talented achievements of other nations could all be surpassed; and I had intended to do so by adducing you and your performance as Wotan as an example of this. But my artists left me in the lurch and I had to comment merely on matters that concerned our patrons. I then hoped to be able to say goodbye to you: how grievously you cheated me of that opportunity!
Believe me, your behaviour continues to remain inexplicable to me, and it is this that really incites my sorrow even now!
God knows what possessed you to act as you did. Let it remain inexplicable, if that is what you wish, unless it depends upon me to clear up some misunderstanding that may have arisen between us. One good deed would dispel all this gloom. Agree to my proposal - and I shall see everything in a better and more friendly light!
Whatever your excuse may be, I can say only one thing to you today:
Our Mastersingers was the best thing I have ever achieved on the stage: I regard your “Hans Sachs” as quite incomparable and unforgettable. - Your “Marke” was perfect. - Your “Wotan” astonishing. I keep on coming back to this term; no other achievement known to me comes close to what you achieved in the second act of the Valkyrie, not least because of the unprecedented difficulties caused by its length and range. Let this much be clear between us, even if you should now strive to forget me.
With the most cordial good wishes,
Yours,
Richard Wagner.
Source: Selected Letters of Richard Wagner, trans. and ed. Stewart Spencer and Barry Millington (W. W. Norton & Company, 1988), No. 445