To be used as appropriate!
- When Herr v. Hülsen dined with me, he expressed the wish that he might be allowed to give the “Valkyrie”, a suggestion which made such a disagreeable impression upon me that Liszt & my wife were obliged to intervene and intimate to H.E. that he would do well to spare me such importunities. One of the things I let slip in my anger was that, if they wanted to give the “Valkyrie” on its own, they would straightway have to cut half the 2nd act, otherwise it would make no sense at all. It seems that he and Eckert (who was also present) interpreted this as permission to cut the passage in question. -
Since then, Bronsart has expressed a wish to perform the whole of the Nibelung’s Ring in Hanover. Hülsen has forbidden him to do so, and issued instructions whereby Hanover, Cassel and Wiesbaden are allowed to perform only those works which he himself has already accepted for Berlin.
That was how things stood when Eckert approached me again recently on Hülsen’s behalf, repeating his shameless demand that I hand over the “Valkyrie” to him for next autumn. I wanted you to know the answer I sent him - for future use! -
For the rest, Brunswick and Schwerin - in addition to Hamburg and Leipzig - have now acquired full performing rights to the whole 4-part work.
How are things otherwise, you wicked man? -
Cordially yours,
Rich. Wagner
Source: Selected Letters of Richard Wagner, trans. and ed. Stewart Spencer and Barry Millington (W. W. Norton & Company, 1988), No. 464