O you Gad-about!!
Best thanks for your letter from Weimar to hand to-day. Your accounts of the Flying Dutchman and singer Milde delighted me much, but also increased my longing to make music again in my own way for once! My residence for such a length of time in Zurich really is a calamity which at last becomes too appreciable to be fought down and repressed by nothing but proud resignation. I confess that, if the Grand Duke of Weimar were this day to obtain me permission to live in his small country unmolested, probably I should not reflect long before availing myself of that permission to choose the neighbourhood of Weimar, where a little music really could be plied from time to time. Yourself, too, you have often expressed to me the wish to settle in Thuringia; perhaps it would be the only migration you would care to join in now, though I should have to admit the justice of your otherwise wishing to remain where we are. — If you agree with me in this, and should you likewise think it wishful for us to settle in some place where I to some extent could have the artistic means for my endeavours near me, then I would give you full authority to discuss exhaustively with Liszt the measures for obtaining that permission. In my opinion there would be nothing else to do, than for the Grand Duke to beg permission for me to reside undeterred in his country direct from the present King of Saxony, whilst I in turn should pledge myself not to quit his country without the Grand Duke's consent. At the same time I'm prepared to give a solemn promise never to engage in politics again; only, they would have to dispense me from any humiliating and easily misrepresentable declaration anent the past. If Liszt deemed it right, you might even seek an audience of the Grand Duke yourself, or at least the Grand Duchess, with this intent. — In any case I lay stress on this subject. —
Do not wonder at my stepping forth with such a thing so suddenly, and do not believe that it's only to-day it has passed through my head. It is a feeling I long have harboured, that without any stimulus whatever for my art I should be unable in time to go on here. You know how of late years I had kept nursing the hope that something might be done for music after all here: upon my side, in truth, I've spared no efforts for it. The result, however, shews there's nothing to be attempted with these people here; I shall even be unable to conduct another symphony this winter! As long as I wrote books here, and then poetry, it could be put up with; but for the past twelvemonth, ever since I began composing again, this utter lack of stimulus was bound to end by thoroughly depressing me. I feel that plainly with my present work, — I remark that zest for it is constantly harder to come by, and am afraid lest, if things are to go on much longer like this, I shall be giving up music again. It's too severe on me! —
Well, the only thing against such a removal would be its running counter to your wish, and your preferring to remain here; for you have gone through so much with me, I confess, that in such things now I leave the casting vote with you. Wherefore I want you not to bring me any sacrifice against your feeling; for, if I knew that you would rather stay here, rest assured it would be the definitive reason for my continuing to make this place endurable to me. So, only in case you entirely and gladly concur with me. Should that be so, I beg you to regard yourself as my plenipotentiary, and go at any rate to the Grand Duchess. — Be assured that on this point I implicitly confide in your understanding and insight! Regarding the Berlin production of Tannhäuser, too, you have done perfectly right; none but you, for sure, could have taken the matter in hand: not I. Doubtless Liszt feels sore about it: if he retreats, he thinks, he'll really be ashamed; the decision to do so must therefore come as altogether from himself. Certainly the necessity of looking out for revenue compels me to want to see that production hastened; why should I seek to conceal it? The delay with Berlin brings all the other block about; just as, on the contrary, Berlin's example will quickly draw the others after. Now all are dawdling: Munich, Hanover, Stuttgart, and so on. If Liszt could only find another remedy, I'd gladly go on waiting. — Let this affair as well, however, be committed entirely to you. — For the rest, it's very wrong of you to try and make your poor old husband so conceited, with your fairy-tales that homage done to me as artist should also be taken as intended for my person. It isn't at all right of you to stuff me up like that, for it hadn't entered my head until now; I considered my beautiful person quite out of the game, and sufficient for no one but you. But I fancy, best Muzius, you are mistaken this time! Never mind, I must indulge you in that. —
For to-day my very best farewell! All send you their greetings, though for long I've seen no one. Most cordial greetings to Liszt and his house. You don't say a word as to whether Liszt received the score of Rheingold? Please ask him at once. I'm anxious about it, you know; neither has Bülow announced its receipt. — Greet Milde too, the Kapellmeisterin and the Child. Many hearty kisses from
Thy Husband.
Source: Richard to Minna Wagner: Letters to His First Wife, trans. William Ashton Ellis, Vol. 1 (H. Grevel & Co., 1909), No. 74