Dear Friend,
Once more: a happy new year! But now comes business: namely the details for the casting of certain parts in my thing. As I have a whole assemblage of notes of interrogation before me at Mannheim, I address myself to you as diplomat, hoping you will behave better to me than Count Arnim to Bismarck.
1. Herr Unger must try to get Loge perfect, and besides study Siegmund (for an emergency); which may be of use to him in the future, if he attends all the rehearsals here, even should he not sing it at Bayreuth just yet.
2. Herr Knapp, for many of his qualities, I would gladly have for Fafner: friend Langer must please see if this will suit Knapp's voice (there being a few deep notes). If not, let him keep to Donner, with the understudy of Gunther, — just as with Unger and Siegmund.
3. Fräulein Auguste v. Müller: "Grimgerde," one of the Walküren. Erda, and First Norn as understudy, vide: Unger-Siegmund.
4. Fräul. Johanna König — the Bird's voice in Siegfried — the lady's somewhat diminutive figure prevents my giving her anything beyond. To be sure, I might have employed her as First Rhine-daughter "Woglinde," but I require for that, in the first rank, experienced and plucky ladies with great knowledge of the stage, as they mostly have to sing in flying-machines; for which the Sisters Lehmann have offered me their services. But: prudence here, as well, is good; Frl. König may learn Woglinde, and Frl. von Müller Flosshilde also.
Friend Langer might see to all practice. These the provisional combinations; if I hear good news from you concerning the readiness of those just named, it will be followed on my side by the official measures, sending of parts, preciser settlements. But I must be perfectly assured on the point which I have calculated in my proposals, that of the most unconditional willingness to co-operate and abide in every way by what I deem expedient for the whole. Singer's-touchinesses, coveting of roles and claims in this respect, wherever found, will compel me to break off engagements at once. Only from the free good-will of every co-operator can that proceed, and succeed, which I intend.
I still lack a Sieglinde; worse luck! She must be slim and presentable. Fr. Jaide will not do. Have you anything to suggest? In case Knapp refuses Fafner, have you perhaps a decent chap for it? In any case it must be a really powerful deep bass.
A thousand hearty greetings from house to house, and to the excellent Righteous!
Your
old little
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. 52