[...] If I were to lose you, I should feel that the appearance of my young King upon the scene was the very irony of Fate! For—as regards intentions—he shows a beautiful idealism and an effectiveness in putting his faith into practice which is without parallel in the history of art. Let it suffice you to learn that yesterday I was told to write commissioning Semper to build the theatre I want in the finest materials! [...]
Source: Letters of Richard Wagner, Vol. 2, selected and ed. Wilhelm Altmann, trans. M. M. Bozman (J. M. Dent & Sons, 1927), No. 597