My good Minna,
I have moved out, had to pack and unpack everything once more, and got terribly cross with it this time! My host's family will return to their abode in a day or two; I hunted for a furnished lodging — lost hours and days over it — found nothing in needful proximity to the theatre, and finally struck up friendship with the landlord of the hotel named above, who is an art-enthusiast, constantly harbours famous musicians, and has let me have a big parlour with bedroom on the 3rd floor, looking over the court, for the same terms as a private furnished lodging (all of which are dear enough!). So I'll here await the consummation of my Vienna fortunes.
Those — God be praised! — are gradually assuming a rather propitious aspect. Ander has come back to town, and will reappear in a week. He boasts that his voice has grown better and clearer than ever; whilst he is as full of zeal for Tristan as before. Moreover, the Director has also returned from his travels: he really has engaged the tenor Morini. I saw the latter yesterday; he's a very handsome man, and is said to have a great success. In Paris the Théâtre lyrique was just wishing to engage him, for — Tannhäuser; only he doesn't want to sing French, but to revert to his mother-tongue. He, too, will soon appear here, and then we shall have two first tenors of the purest water, with whom there'll be a chance of doing something. — So — my heart is considerably lightened on that score at any rate, and the only thing I have to bewail is the long delay and the loss of a hospitable house that eased my so protracted sojourn in Vienna. I seem doomed to have everything fall out incredibly hard now; God knows when Luck will smile on me a little once again!
From Paris I've received the oddest tidings. The only person who has written me, is our good Truinet. It turns out to have been a Benefit for Roger, at which he is said to have sung and acted the Tannhäuser scene from the last act quite transportingly: the act began with the Star of Evening (sung by Troy), all in costume and full scenery; before it came the overture. Truinet merely says that everything was very warmly applauded, and not a trace of opposition displayed. In Lorbac's Journal it is further stated that Roger was interrupted four times over by fanatical applause, and the only difficulty is how to give it oftener, as certain statutes strictly forbid the Director to present translations. Two days afterwards, so I read in the papers, there was a repetition. Roger is said to be behaving quite charmingly, and I confess I feel inclined to leave the thing entirely in his hands. At any rate he has deserved extremely well of me, and the results of this revival, however curious in itself, may be of great importance. This adventure with the work is most remarkable. I'm waiting eagerly for further accounts, and have written Gasperini to-day. — I couldn't help laughing at a letter of the Princess Metternich, who wrote me a few days since, from her Castle Königswart in Bohemia, exulting over the éclatant success of Tannhäuser at the Opéra comique which its director had just announced to her by telegram. So the rascal had briefly made her believe the whole of Tannhäuser had been performed. I had to undeceive her. — The Metternichs will be returning to Vienna for a time in the second half of October, when I shall see if I cannot arrive at something decent through them. A post that would suit me famously has been vacant here for years: that of an Imper. Court-composer with 4000 gulden pay, and nothing to do for it but personally conduct one's compositions. That keeps running in my head now, particularly that such a berth is nothing new here, and would therefore only need to be filled up again. By God, a thing like that might just as well come my way. —
No answer yet from Carlsruhe; which is not a bad sign to me. Moreover, I've seen in the papers that both the Highnesses have been continually away travelling, and only quite recently returned to Carlsruhe. What a deal of time everybody takes, to be sure, especially if one wants anything! —
In a few days, good Mutz, you will receive at least 100 thaler direct from Berlin, to go on with. It came very pat that a couple more performances of my operas have taken place this month there. As I didn't want to let you wait till mid-October, I have asked Bülow to obtain payment for them at once. By the end of next month there'll be more at your disposal, as I really must get myself at least paid an advance on my fee here. (People are much astonished at my not having asked for the whole of it long ago!)
So we poor folk will take a little breath again! Ah God, I need it; I can't tell you how depressed I've been of late. Now just you give me the delight of hearing something good about your health; look Pusinelli up, and leave everything else to take care of itself. I really fancy things will come to a good and relieving issue in course of this winter.
Liszt is going to the Olliviers, and perhaps to Athens. His marriage seems to have fallen through. He hasn't written me, only I've heard it from others. — With the Pohls you may very well consort: we're charmant friends; greet both of them. It's quite desperate, your having even heard of the child's-games at Tieffurth: Liszt thought fit to romp about; so I believed I mustn't appear stiff, and at least behaved as if I were joining in. Pardon! But then you know how often I have had to entertain my tiresome guests before with sky-larking and standing on my head: it seems to be my lot! — Now fare splendidly well; hope, trust, and — hold dear
Thy good Husband.
Please don't forget the story about Jacquot! —
Source: Richard to Minna Wagner: Letters to His First Wife, trans. William Ashton Ellis, Vol. 2 (Charles Scribner's Sons, 1909), No. 215