My dearest faithful Friend!
And so a misunderstanding must bring us again into correspondence, after I had refrained for so long a time from approaching you.
The reason for this is to be found in the fact that, after the distressing experience through which you have been called upon to pass, my own situation, at no time free from care and anxiety, did not suggest to me just the way in which this could be done.
Now I know that you yourself have conquered your grief and view life again with firm courage! I was comforted by this!
As for myself, it seems as if nothing could affect me; I see before me possibilities which I have not the least intention of avoiding.
But I am in great perplexity about the offer of this man in Berlin. I believe he is asking for my technical assistance for a Wagner theatre he proposes to erect.
In the meantime I am to build such a theatre upon one of his sites, as a sort of speculation, etc., etc.
For God's sake, let him erect a circus or something of that sort; I have had enough of the Bayreuth theatre.
Will you be kind enough to give this gentleman whatever information you deem necessary?
Something is yet to come of our Bayreuth—at least I think so. My ideas in regard to this you have probably already heard.
1. Parsifal I retain solely and exclusively for Bayreuth; even the King renounces it for Munich, but sends me every year his chorus and orchestra.
2. Yearly performances open to everyone for admission (high!).
3. The patrons' fund is to serve as capital for the enterprise; as this fund increases, augmented by the box office receipts, it is in time to serve for the further performances of my works.
I herewith relinquish all the receipts, as I am not even editing the Parsifal score.
I must look elsewhere for personal support; five months in America (September, 1881, April, 1882) shall secure me an independent income.
So the matter stands and—I think all will be well!
Your ever grateful
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. 118