Honoured Sir!
Through my dear nephew, Clement Brockhaus of Leipzig, the delightful assurance has reached me that you would meet me half-way if I approached you in the not unimportant matter which has already been brought to your notice.
As to the undertaking itself, I take the liberty of sending you under separate cover a more detailed explanation of the same. My reasons for choosing Bayreuth as the place of the execution of my plans will not be difficult to divine (even without the further particulars which I shall reserve for some future time) from the demands which I have made upon the place. . . . The place must not be a large city with a permanent theatre, nor one of the larger summer resorts, where during the season an absolutely undesirable public would offer itself; it must be centrally located in Germany, and moreover be a Bavarian city, as I also intend to take up my permanent residence in the place, and consider that I could do this only in Bavaria, if I hope to enjoy the continued patronage of the King of Bavaria. Apart from these considerations, this pleasant old city, with its surroundings, made an indelible impression upon me years ago, and the fact that I am an utter stranger to the citizens of Bayreuth gives me no cause for alarm.
With this preface, permit me to make you more familiar with my affairs.
In the first place, there are various not unimportant points upon which I should like information. I take it for granted that the city of Bayreuth is in no way to be called upon in collecting the funds for my undertaking. Energetic friends of my cause are already employed in collecting the necessary sums, and I already feel myself justified, by their success, in taking the necessary steps to secure a site for the erection of my provisional theatre, the commencement of which, on account of the unfavourableness of the season, must be postponed until next March. I should esteem myself particularly fortunate if, by your kind permission, I could turn to you, highly honoured sir, in the settlement of these important preliminary questions. The first of these is the choice and acquisition of a building site. The chief thing to me seems to be whether the city of Bayreuth, in consideration of the advantages accruing to the city from my undertaking (both as regards her reputation as well as the increased intercourse with strangers), is in a position to promise, or feels herself moved to offer me, free of charge, a piece of ground for the erection of my theatre. I will not say that my undertaking is absolutely dependent upon such support; but it must be clear to anyone that such concessions will tend to establish from the very outset pleasant relations between the city of Bayreuth and my undertaking. In the event that such willingness is shown, there can be no question of a choice of place on my part. . . .
I have further to mention the chief objection which has been made against Bayreuth on the part of my patrons, and that is their anxiety that sufficient accommodation for the guests cannot be found. It will be necessary to insure satisfactory entertainment to a personnel of two hundred persons—in the height of the season.
As my experience furnishes me with no suggestion, I leave this point with you for your kind consideration, and should be very much pleased if you could put me in possession of information which would serve to quiet the anxieties of my patrons. It would also be a comfort to me to feel assured that there would be no lack of workmen for the rapid erection of the building, and that we should not find ourselves crippled by a strike. . . .
I add at once to my report the settlement of another point, namely, that it will devolve upon me, as was signified to me in Munich, to secure the approval of the city authorities for my entire undertaking.
It would be well to keep in mind the fact that this has nothing to do with a money-making theatrical enterprise; the performances will be attended only by invited guests and the patrons of the undertaking; no one will be allowed to pay for admission. On the other hand, I have already provided for a sufficient number of seats to be placed at the disposal of the citizens of Bayreuth—these to be distributed free of charge.
Having, I believe, informed you, highly honoured sir, of the chief points, which I felt encouraged to submit for your kind consideration, advice, and co-operation, permit me to beg the favour of a favourable answer, as well as to assure you of the great esteem with which I have the honour to salute you as
Yours most faithfully,
Richard Wagner.
Source: The Story of Bayreuth as Told in the Bayreuth Letters of Richard Wagner, trans. and ed. Caroline V. Kerr (Small, Maynard and Company, 1912), No. 5