Dearest Brother Fischer,
In the old year I rated you soundly through Heine: in the new I must, on the other hand, wheedle you into doing me a kindness. You know about Uhlig's illness, and can well understand how painful it is to me to load him now with commissions. But things have got into fearful confusion; at Breslau and Schwerin they are anxiously waiting for the revised score of the Flying Dutchman. For this "revision" two pattern-scores were necessary, according to which the new scores were to be prepared: from the one, the Overture and the instrumental close of the last Act; from the other, all the rest of the instrumentation. Till now both the scores were at Weimar, in order that the score there might be arranged according to them; when Uhlig asked for them there was some delay, and only a few days ago Liszt announced to me that they would be sent off. In any case, I now presume that they have arrived in Dresden. But in order that the two copies required (for Breslau and Schwerin) may be more quickly arranged, there occurs to me a score revised by my own hand, which — gratis and of my own accord — I sent to the Dresden Court Theatre (at the time when this opera was to have been put into rehearsal there). From this score I conducted the opera last Easter here in Zurich: the Dresden Court Theatre can have no earthly claim to it, as it already possesses an older score of the opera; the new copy was merely given by me to the office for the purpose of having the parts arranged thereby; moreover, I have in no way given it into the possession of the management. (It would be different if it were intended to give the opera in Dresden: then I should say, "Arrange the old Dresden score according to this one!") So this second score belongs to me, and I beg you to make clear my title to it and demand it back: God willing, this opera also is likely to be more widely given, and as I do not possess many copies of the score, this detention is of special moment. Uhlig could keep this score to serve as a model for the future, while the revised copy (which we received back from Leipzig) could be sent at once to Breslau. Thus it would only be a case of speedily arranging a copy for Schwerin on the lines of that obtained back from Dresden. For both places — Breslau and Schwerin — there will only be one thing further to see to, namely, that the Overture and the instrumental close of the Third Act should still be specially revised according to that score which I sent last year to Uhlig from Zurich. (Mind, this change is contained neither in the second Dresden nor in the Leipzig score.) A correct model copy, as well as a reserve theatre copy, must be prepared immediately after this.
N.B. If L. makes difficulties about giving up the score, it might be merely lent for the while; if everything is granted, then the old theatre score must also be arranged at my cost: more he certainly cannot ask.
Do be so kind, old sinner! Look after the forty-year-old stripling for me! I cannot now trouble Uhlig with anything! You will soon hear further from me. Have you commenced the new year well? Your "unwise," "unpolitical" friend wishes you much health and happiness.
Richard Wagner.
Source: Richard Wagner's Letters to His Dresden Friends, Theodor Uhlig, Wilhelm Fischer, and Ferdinand Heine, trans. J. S. Shedlock (Scribner & Welford, 1890), No. 110