[...] Believe me—the ideal is fulfilled! Nothing more beautiful or more perfect is imaginable! [...]
I have no title, no office, no duties, I am nothing but Richard Wagner. The King agrees with me in scorn of the theatre, and more particularly of the opera. He knows as I do that only extraordinary achievements can influence even the former. It is quite within my power to do this from time to time. So we are first concentrating on as perfect a performance as possible of Tristan. The time for it depends principally on you. [...] The plans for performance which I drew up for The Nibelungs must serve as the norm for Tristan also.
Well, then, put yourself at my disposal for three months each year! Done! [...]
Source: Letters of Richard Wagner, Vol. 2, selected and ed. Wilhelm Altmann, trans. M. M. Bozman (J. M. Dent & Sons, 1927), No. 582