By the way! a correction in post-haste — a defect to which you call my attention at the right moment. In the text, and in the pianoforte score of Tannhäuser (if a new edition is to appear), the end must be rectified thus:
1. Text:
Tannhäuser. "Heilige Elisabeth, bitte für mich!" (He dies.)
The younger Pilgrims (entering from the front of the scene, while the sun is rising): Heil! Heil! Der Gnade Wunder Heil! Erlösung ward der Welt zu Theil! Es gab in nächtlich heil'ger Stund' — etc.
Landgraf, Knights, Singers and older Pilgrims: Der Gnade Heil ist dem Büsser beschieden, Er geht nun ein in der Seligen Frieden! (Finis.)
I beg you will fill in the necessary scenic remarks from the old and new books (neither of which I have at hand).
If Härtels have not got on very far with the printing, you might send on this insertion; otherwise you can attend to it in correcting.
2. (Pianoforte score) from "Heilige Elisabeth, bitte für mich!" go on just as it stands in the old pianoforte score — quaver triplets and chorus of younger pilgrims in full, right to the end. Only where the great Pilgrim theme (formerly only in the orchestra — trombones and trumpets) comes in, put the voice parts as they are in the altered score, in unison:
[Musical example: Der Gnade Heil ist dem Büsser be-]
The younger pilgrims (soprano and alto) continue here, as formerly, with the "Halleluja." You quite understand me, do you not? The miracle only hinted at in the altered form must be completely restored; the "er ist erlöst! er ist erlöst!" etc., naturally comes out. Thus is everything consistent, and the idea completely developed.
The reason for leaving out the announcement of the miracle in the Dresden change was quite a local one: the chorus was always bad, flat, and uninteresting; also an imposing scenic effect — a splendid, gradual sunrise — was wanting. But here, where I wish to express my idea to the full, that consideration has no longer any weight with me.
So change this in the book and in the pianoforte score.
Farewell for to-day, and thanks for everything! I am not well. This cursed Tannhäuser affair prevented me from sleeping all night. That's my way.
Adieu!
The affair with R., etc., in W., is really terrible.
Source: Richard Wagner's Letters to His Dresden Friends, Theodor Uhlig, Wilhelm Fischer, and Ferdinand Heine, trans. J. S. Shedlock (Scribner & Welford, 1890), No. 36