Dear Old Friend!
Now put everything by for once, and make it possible for you to come here for The Mastersingers. The first performance is settled definitely for 21 June. — The 2nd one on the 25th. You'll never live to see anything like it again, for I can't ever arrange another performance with such care. It would be fine indeed if you were to be there to enjoy it, and believe me, there's to be much significance in it. Surely, I think — you really must come!
Forgive my writing so briefly: my exhaustion is great; nevertheless, the fruits of this should not be gathered without my faithful and beloved old friend!
From my heart
Your
Richard W.
Source: The Letters of Richard Wagner to Anton Pusinelli, trans. and ed. Elbert Lenrow (Alfred A. Knopf, 1932), No. 51