My Dear Friend and Brother,
I must heartily thank you for the fresh act of friendship which you have just shown me by seeing to the parts of the Flying Dutchman. Director Löwe has assured me that the full score and parts are on their way to Dresden, addressed to you, and sent by goods-mail, as I myself advised; for, on the one hand, the packet could not be addressed to Dresden per post; on the other hand, as far as I know, there was no special hurry. You people will probably never want the parts there again, and thus never settle the debt which Dresden has to pay me for this opera. For now more than ever have I recognized how bad was the performance which Dresden gave of this my work, inasmuch as I have been forced to recognize without any illusions that even in such a hole-and-corner theatre as the one here it was possible to bring about a thoroughly efficient, and therefore effective, performance. When I recall what an extremely clumsy and wooden setting of the Flying Dutchman the imaginative Dresden machinist Hänel gave on his magnificent stage, I am seized even now with an after-attack of rage. Herr Wächter's and Risse's genial and energetic efforts are also faithfully stored up in my memory! That during my six years' Royal Capellmeistership I could not succeed in again bringing out this opera (with Mitterwurzer, etc.), and getting it respected, can only be realized by one who has some conception of what a Dresden Court Theatre is.
All the more, I must frankly acknowledge it, has the hole-and-corner performance here rejoiced me. Certainly I undertook it only and solely for the sake of some of my friends here, who wished to form their own idea of me; naturally, I was highly indifferent as to the public, success, etc., since I was only concerned to bring the matter to light in as intelligible a way as possible. Now, not only was I successful in this, but I perceive the unusually strong impression which the performance itself made upon the mass of the public; while the singers (especially the representative of the principal rôle, the baritone Pichon) I so drew out of themselves that they not only astonished the public by the novelty of their rendition, but often even gave myself most lively satisfaction. The scenery was naturally poor, coarse, and on a small scale; but yet, in obedience to my suggestions, everything was fully indicated, and carried out in accordance with the aim; so that this performance might well serve as model to the larger stages, which would only have to furnish everything with greater refinement and wealth of detail. The orchestra was reinforced, and was right good, often quite excellent. The chorus, which was reinforced by all the comedians who had any voices, and singers not otherwise engaged, was fresh and full of life. Your nephew played the Daland, and, indeed, right well.
Although I had the misfortune at the first performance that the principal singer was hoarse from the very commencement, the opera had, nevertheless, such a success, that in eight days it was given four separate times, to full houses, with subscription-list suspended, and the prices raised as never before. The director was quite unhappy that he had already booked the railway-seats for the departure of his company to Geneva, for he could now have counted on giving the opera yet five times more in the following eight days, with the same success throughout.
The trying work has certainly fearfully exhausted me, for naturally this result was only possible by means of the most terrible rehearsals. Still, I think I shall soon get all right again, and shortly set to my new work. So much, then, for this affair!
Now, I particularly ask you to give me news of Heine. I hear he has insisted on being pensioned off, and is now returning to Dresden. He might write once more, to give me news of himself, his family, and especially of Wilhelm. Please impart to him what I have told you here about myself. I send heartiest greetings to him; may he always keep me in kind remembrance!
With regard to yourself, I still stick to it that I expect you soon in Switzerland. A male choir of at least two thousand will, I hope, suffice for your activity, and that I can procure for you here. With this decoy-song I will now conclude, and indeed with the very best wishes for your prosperity from Minna and myself! Thanks for all kindnesses, and ever remain good to
Your
R. W.
P.S. Has your Wilhelm tannhäusered at Cassel? I hope it has gone off well? I no longer quite trust old Spohr to conduct the Overture to T.: let us hope W. helped him.
Source: Richard Wagner's Letters to His Dresden Friends, Theodor Uhlig, Wilhelm Fischer, and Ferdinand Heine, trans. J. S. Shedlock (Scribner & Welford, 1890), No. 109