Wagner's Letters

Richard Wagner to Emil Heckel

August 18, 1871 · Tribschen

Subject

Written at Wagner's dictation

Overview

Dictated to Cosima: Wagner agrees to receive the pianist Hänlein to settle the concert details, reports that he has asked Karl Bechstein to take the late Tausig's place, and explains that the Berlin committee will make no public appeal, keeping to private channels.

Letter

My dear Sir,

I shall be pleased to receive the pianist Herr Hänlein, and to give him the desired details of the concert.

I have written to Court-pianoforte-purveyor Karl Bechstein in Berlin, praying him to take Karl Tausig's place; until I receive his answer, communications may be sent to her Excellency Freifrau von Schleinitz, Ministry of the Royal and Imperial Household, Wilhelmstrasse, Berlin.

No public appeal can be entertained by the Berlin committee, as its first principle has been to keep to personal and private paths. With best thanks and friendliest greeting,

Richard Wagner.

Source: Letters of Richard Wagner to Emil Heckel, with a Brief History of the Bayreuth Festivals, trans. William Ashton Ellis (Grant Richards, 1899), No. 4

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