Dear Wesendonck,
It much rejoiced me to hear that you really had followed my invitation and given yourself in all earnest to the impression of two performances of the Meistersinger. I may hope, if only on account of the excellence of these performances, that you really had some joy of the thing; it is impossible that you can ever have witnessed so good and correct a performance of so difficult a work; for — apart from Tristan und Isolde three years ago — this has been the only one that really gave me joy, myself, and hope of the formation of a truly German style in matters operatic. Unfortunately my co-operation — and in particular the anger inevitable with disturbing elements — has much overwrought me once more. After the first performance, which, owing to my great anxiety about the singers, I had meant to watch over in secret, I departed for my country retreat, where I have been ill ever since. Yet I expect to recover again, and then set to work at finishing the Nibelungen pieces, which have hitherto remained exactly where I left them over ten years back. —
Your interest has much delighted me, and I beg you in return to be assured of my constant most faithful and grateful recollections of your ancient friendship.
With hearty greetings,
Yours sincerely
Richard Wagner.
Source: Richard Wagner's Letters to Wesendonck et al., trans. and indexed by William Ashton Ellis (Grant Richards, 1899), No. 42