[...] There is not much to tell you about myself, child! A fellow who runs from door to door trying to get a suitable concert-hall ought not to concern you in Rome. [...]
[...] On May 1st I think of opening my German Opera season at the Salle Ventadour. The best German singers have all accepted with enthusiasm; Frau Ney, Meyer-Dustmann (Vienna), Tichatschek, Niemann, etc., have rallied to my standard and are even ready for pecuniary sacrifices. My opinion is that I shall soon be able to settle everything definitely. First will come Tannhäuser and Lohengrin, during which time Tristan will be rehearsed and given from about June 1st to 16th. So—I must do what I can. But it doesn't sound Roman!
As you know, I had it in mind to confine myself to merely external activities for a while. Well, these are now forced upon me by the miscarriage of the Tristan scheme in Karlsruhe. All my present projects are connected with the possibility of getting Tristan performed. After that I shall probably let things slide again. I am looking no farther ahead. [...]
Source: Letters of Richard Wagner, Vol. 2, selected and ed. Wilhelm Altmann, trans. M. M. Bozman (J. M. Dent & Sons, 1927), No. 453