Na, Mienel, Rienzi came yesterday and triumphed anew. It really is no trifle, to give the opera so that it makes a furore without a true Rienzi. After the first act such frantic applause still continued long after the music had ceased, that, having bowed already several times from the conductor's desk and then left it, I was obliged to return there to acknowledge yet another salvo. Then with the second act the greatest tumult broke loose, and after I had likewise made my obeisances from the orchestra, I had to appear upon the stage as well, where I again was received with an unspeakable Hurrah. After the 3rd act, which had a great effect here, the same proceedings as after the 2nd: I had to appear again. The 4th act had the same effect as its first time at Dresden; after the 5th I was called again with jubilation.
— That will do for you, on the outer success! I cannot comprehend to-day, how a success of this extent was possible without Tichatscheck. With Wurda, I may say I triumphed purely through the thing itself, since he wasn't a patch upon Tichatscheck, although he sang portions quite well; but the whole fellow is shockingly wooden! How many thousand times I muttered, "Heavenly Father, had I only my Tichatscheck here!" — The more unequal to it Wurda was, however, the greater the true honour to me, and I confess I'm rather proud of it. All the rest was very well sung for the most part, with exception of the Envoy of Peace, who was very dozy. The choruses went excellently, and the most enraptured of all were the bandsmen and singers themselves; which is a very good token of lasting. Adriano, as I expected, was capital; the two demagogues — excellent! The stage arrangements were still a little shaky, though much was mounted very well, some things decidedly better than at Dresden, especially the ballet. Confusion still prevailed in the processions, off and on: no great mischief, however, since the general effect was capital. — I could desire nothing more, than to see the jubilation if Tichatscheck gives the Rienzi here!
— I'm a wee bit run down, my good Mienel, as you may easily imagine, but feel well here on the whole. — Now you have heard the main thing, tell my friends! Cornet reckons on upwards of 20 Rienzi performances this year; the tantièmes will be a relish, won't they? — So Sunday, if no one falls ill, will be our second performance; then I shall depart on Monday morning, and, God willing, be with you at Dresden Tuesday evening by the last train, and embrace and kiss you to our hearts' content.
The thing is going, good Wife, the ship speeding full sail.
May this letter find you well and hearty! Adieu, for the present; I shall be with you on Tuesday evening.
Thy Richard.
Source: Richard to Minna Wagner: Letters to His First Wife, trans. William Ashton Ellis, Vol. 1 (H. Grevel & Co., 1909), No. 18