My very dear friend,
I hope that I do not need to repeat the information which my wife sent to our friend Adolf concerning the state of our business here: if, in spite of my detailed knowledge of conditions in London, which has always discouraged me from trying my luck here, I none the less thought that such an attempt might ultimately (and unprecedentedly!) succeed on this single occasion, it was less this thought as such, and the hope that was founded upon it, which persuaded me to come to London than the decision to show you and those of my friends who were attracted by the idea that it was not indolence and convenience on my part which made me wish that other means might be found for covering our deficit. It is now time to embark upon an alternative course without any further delay, which is why I would beg you most kindly to send out an invitation at once from the committee of management of the festival enterprise, asking for contributions to cover the deficit; in doing so you should give a brief summary of the present state of affairs, probably also mentioning my eagerness to spare the Patrons this imposition by subjecting myself to such arduous strain, and at the same time opening the subscription list with a contribution of 3000 marks from me, to which you yourself, as a generous private citizen, might perhaps be inclined to add your own contribution. I should prefer it if these circulars were not sent to the Wagner Societies as such (on account of their great inability to do anything), but urged upon only a few private individuals. My own view is that a list should be sent to Berlin (Davidsohn, Kuschinsky, Frau v. Schleinitz), a second one to Vienna (Dr Standhartner for consultation with Countess Dönhoff), a 3rd to Munich (Balligand, with an invitation to approach everyone up to and including the King), 4th London (Wagner Society through Dannreuther), a 5th & 6th perhaps to Heckel; and Senator Petersen in Hamburg, and ultimately probably also Dresden, Court Councillor Dr Pusinelli, and, above all, Count Magnis in Silesia. Each of these copies would have my own contribution of 3000 marks - and perhaps yours as well - placed at the top of the list and entered as a subscription. As soon as the lists were full and sufficiently great to meet our needs, the complete list would then be sent to each subscriber with a request for immediate payment.
If this course, too, should fail, I am resolved to accept Ullmann’s American offer, put my property in Bayreuth up for sale, set sail across the ocean with my entire family, and never again return to Germany. -
As far as the local business is concerned, we are afraid we shall not even cover our costs. I should be glad to get back the advances which you paid to the singers on my behalf. You would also place me in your debt if you were to transfer a credit of 2 to 3000 marks to me here, so that I can go to Ems at the beginning of June. Whether I shall recover my health there will largely depend upon my receiving reassuring news that a subscription list has been opened and is being put into effect. It is to be hoped that some words of comfort should reach me from that quarter!
Please be patient with me and forgive me all the trouble I have already caused you. Please remember me to our friends, to your dear family, and especially to my good Adolf.
In eternal gratitude,
Richard Wagner.
Source: Selected Letters of Richard Wagner, trans. and ed. Stewart Spencer and Barry Millington (W. W. Norton & Company, 1988), No. 447