Wagner's Letters

Richard Wagner to Cäcilie Avenarius

December 12, 1844 · Dresden

Overview

Welcoming Cäcilie and her family back to Germany, Wagner regrets that he cannot leave Dresden even for a day because of the imminent arrival of Weber's ashes and his New Year production of Marschner's Adolf von Nassau.

Letter

[...] A hearty welcome to Germany! Dearest love to you and your husband and children from Minna and myself! It was with a strange, new, keenly aroused and most warm emotion that we once more received news of you so close at hand. Still to have to go on writing seems intolerable, and yet it is quite impossible at present to leave here even for a day, since in face of the imminent arrival here of Weber's ashes, and following that, a new opera by Marschner [Adolf von Nassau] which I am to produce at the New Year, I cannot dream of being away from Dresden for a moment.

Once more—be tremendously welcome! We Dresden relatives hail your coming with a great acclamation! Be convinced that we all mean it! [...]

Source: Letters of Richard Wagner, Vol. 1, selected and ed. Wilhelm Altmann, trans. M. M. Bozman (J. M. Dent & Sons, 1927), No. 110