My entirely good dear Minna,
I made a fool of myself, now I remember, in not giving you my address last time, since I probably have spoilt my chance of getting news from you, for which I'm longing so. To make it still possible, I'll write my address down at once: Goldschmidgasse no. 594, 1st floor. — As I think of staying on here till the end of next week, I now shall hope to get a letter from you yet in any case; at least, I beg for one with all my heart. — My Vienna ship is answering the helm quite splendidly. At 4 next Monday afternoon there is a big meeting at Fischhof's, when my plan's to be broached for acceptance in general. Directly my name had appeared on the Visitors' list I had several callers, among others Dr Bacher (very rich and enthusiastic), who entered into my plan with delight. Very influential also is the acquisition of Staatsrath Vesque von Püttlingen (composer of the opera "Johanna d'Arc," under the name of "Hoven"); Fischhof and I dined with him yesterday at his villa in the country: my plan enraptured him, and he begged immediate copies for the Ministers, to make them provisionally acquainted with the thing. For the Kärnthnerthor Opera, however, all considered that one condition must be made: namely, that I should cut myself adrift from Dresden, to take over the direction of this theatre. I replied: At Dresden I certainly have a Royal appointment for life, with a good salary etc.; nevertheless, if my wishes could be thoroughly fulfilled for Vienna, I have hopes of soon being released by my King. That satisfied them all, and on Monday, as said, a general meeting is to be held; then the Minister is to be approached with all their signatures, asking for a commission to be named at once to draw up a suitable scheme for the introduction of my Theatre-organisation; all that they regret, is that I must leave again now, and cannot take immediate part in this commission. Dear Wife, this Vienna is a glorious city; everything here gives me such an agreeable feeling of warmth; the conditions are home-like and yet so colossal. What surroundings! I had forgotten them all, and am truly bewitched with them now for the first time. One may enjoy it all fairly cheap, too; for a 20-kreuzer elegant coaches take you to the most beautiful spots in the neighbourhood. I have been most, in fact nearly all, of the time with Fischhof, as he conducts me everywhere. A capital fellow, that, of uncommonly wide acquaintance, standing in the highest esteem with everybody, high and low. Two of his pupils are the Russian attaché with whom we have gone out several times already, and the son of the Turkish ambassador, with whom we are to drive to Baden to-day. Only think, I am keeping company with Turks and Egyptians here, for there is also a grandson of Mehemed Ali, the viceroy of Egypt. For the rest, Vienna is now distinguished from all other cities chiefly by its presenting no party-friction at all; there is only one party here, the radical: at Innsbruck sits the court-party, about which no one bothers any more. A fine fete took place yesterday: disquieting rumours had been spread, that the military intended to strike a blow at Vienna, and so forth. Well, a deputation from the army came to the Committee of Public Safety the day before yesterday, and declared its wish to quash any such rumours by organising a meeting of the National Guard and Army next morning in the Brigittenau, there to vow brotherhood. It came to pass, too, and amid cheering and music the National Guard, students, army with officers, 12 Generals etc., workmen and the like, all marched through the city mingled anyhow and arm in arm. It really was exalting. — It will be many a long day before Vienna falls to the ground; what wealth abounds here! Nobody asks after the Emperor now, no one wants him; one is quite sufficient for oneself. —
Enough for to-day, dear good Wife: I have to be at Fischhof's at 9, to go to Baden with the company aforesaid. —
You shall soon have another report from me; God grant you're as well as myself; only be of good cheer and good spirits! After all our manifold experiences, I fancy things will go quite comfortably with us at last. — Yes, yes — one has really learnt something for the future from it all.
Now, many, many hearty kisses from
Thy Richard.
Source: Richard to Minna Wagner: Letters to His First Wife, trans. William Ashton Ellis, Vol. 1 (H. Grevel & Co., 1909), No. 27