My good Mutz,
I really meant to write you yesterday, but couldn't get to it although I was invited nowhere. The consequence, however, is that I have something extra good to tell you this morning. For yesterday afternoon I received a call from the Vienna Kapellmeister Esser, who had been expressly sent by the management to arrive at an agreement with me concerning Lohengrin and go through the opera itself with me at the piano, that I might instruct him in my minutest intentions. And all the way from Vienna! — That really is deserving of all honour, and Eckert has risen mightily in my esteem; it is a truly signal and handsome distinction, such as I had never yet been treated to. The management at the same time propounded its counter-proposals: Tantième is impossible, since the Kärnthnerthor theatre is too small, has no high prices, and in the very best event can only take 800 gulden a night, from which the company's enormous salaries must be deducted; not before a new big theatre is built, can the tantième system be expedient. — So they asked me to accept 1000 gulden down for the first 20 performances, another 500 gulden after the 20th, and the same after the 30th; more they could not offer me, in view of the present insignificant takings, and anything nearly approaching this had never yet been done. I considered that quite reasonable, and was particularly delighted at their having sent me their Kapellmeister express; so I signed the contract, and immediately received from Esser my 1000 gulden cash. There's Sunday trading for you! We went through the first act the same evening; this morning the second is to take its turn, and the third this evening. His dinner he's to take with me, this Esser, who let us hope is no Fresser! —
One thing is certain: the Viennese production may, indeed must prove excellent. They really have the best singers there; every part can be almost perfectly cast; and since the Kapellmeister also promises so well, I'm looking forward to Vienna very much, and only wish I could be there. — From the accompanying you will see that the Kaiser of Austria is also said to have intervened in my favour at Dresden; it's very possible, and in that case I owe it to the Grand Duke of Weimar, who was at Vienna quite recently and must have tackled the Emperor there. How it stands with King Johann, on the contrary, you will likewise gather from this notice; not a bad joke, forsooth, for me to submit to being tried and condemned at Dresden first! However, the affair is bound to take a turn now. True, I have had no further news from Dresden, neither from Tichatscheck nor from Fischer; but Tausig's father, who had just been there, has written his son that it was something extraordinary, unprecedented, the enthusiasm not to be described. — I have written my political epistle to Berlin as well. There the scenery and horses will have to do the trick: the singers are too miserable, so that I should be unable to do much with them myself. Lucky, on the contrary, that I may expect such gratification from Vienna. — But if Hülsen also forwards that advance, we shall be nice and straight again for once, and I shall pay off all remaining debts, furniture, shoemaker, bookbinder, and so on. Heim, too, can promptly have his money back, and we shall have enough left to wait for the future in safety.
With such good prospects, then, the only thing still lacking is that my poor dear Mutz should soon feel better, and return to house and garden with firm trust in her further convalescence. Mind you employ the brief remaining time well, however long it seems to you. You're in a good way now, I convinced myself of that on the last occasion, to my great relief; only pluck up heart and confidence in your improvement, then it can't be long deferred. If you don't come soon, the birds will hatch everything away from us; another white-throat has built her nest in the vine under my balcony; ay — think of it! — one has even built and laid eggs in your apple-shaker. The white-throat in the rosebush has made great friends with me already; she is brooding, and no longer flies off when I pass, but just peeps out complacently as if to say, You'll not molest me, will you? — Here in my room, tho', I have a blue-bottle that rinses its mouth out; at least it sounds so: surely I am not to put up with that? —
I have to pay 1 fr. 80 c. for chickens to-day; isn't it scandalous? But that comes of having visitors from Vienna!
Now farewell; be of good courage; have trust! Everything is straightening, and will straighten still better and better. Adieu, you good Minna!
Thy Richard.
Source: Richard to Minna Wagner: Letters to His First Wife, trans. William Ashton Ellis, Vol. 1 (H. Grevel & Co., 1909), No. 138