[...] In view of the hopes aroused in myself and in all our friends by your appearance, it seems to me that the only way of meeting your wishes is to attempt to reawaken the public interest (which in your opinion has not been aroused since the Dramatic Festival of 1876), by getting Parsifal produced as soon as practicable. I think this might be done in 1882 if I secure complete freedom from distractions till then, but only then (on the practical side) if I can claim the assistance of the King of Bavaria.
On a secure basis such as this, I propose, after Parsifal, to produce each year a pattern performance of each one of my earlier works (in order), as my artistic last will and testament to my friends. As I am now in my sixty-eighth year, I must look forward to a long and healthy old age if I am to carry out my plan, and I feel that I shall then have done enough to be excused from performances of The Magic Flute, Der Freischütz, Fidelio, etc. Any information or teaching I may have to give I shall be glad to give privately if people will but come to visit me in Bayreuth. Even if these performances of my works prevent me from leaving behind me my "School," what, after all, have I to do with a "School"?
Source: Letters of Richard Wagner, Vol. 2, selected and ed. Wilhelm Altmann, trans. M. M. Bozman (J. M. Dent & Sons, 1927), No. 719