Volume I Part 25 (1/2)

The rumour reported by several papers that I am about to leave Weymar and settle in Paris is quite unfounded I stay here, and can do nothing but stay here You will easily guess what has brought me to this maturely considered resolution In the first instance I have faithfully to fulfill a serious duty Together with this feeling of the most profound and constant love which occupies the faith of my whole soul, my external life must either rise or sink May God protect ot with your ”Nibelungen”? It will be a great joy to h your i distract you froe!

All is perishable, only God's word remains for ever, and God's word is revealed in the creations of genius

Yesterday your ”Tannhauser” was given apart frohts, before an overcrowded house A new scene had been painted for the revised conclusion of the piece, and for the first tiiven the entire finale of the second act (a splendid, masterly finale!) and the entire prayer of Elizabeth in the third act without any cut The effect was extraordinary, and I think you, would have been pleased with the whole performance I celebrated on this occasion a perfect triumph in your cause, for now that the success has been so decided, I may tell you candidly that no one here cared for the troublesome study of the finale or for the execution of the revised close, and that the talking backwards and forwards about the change lasted several months

”Why,” it was said, ”do ant a different ”Tannhauser” from the one we are accustomed to?” Several people who had seen ”Tannhauser” in Dresden declared decidedly that our performance was much better, and that it would lose by the new close and by the restoration of the entire finale, etc, etc To all these excellent arguive Wagner's works when and as far as it is possible in accordance with the wishes and intentions of the composer”

And, behold! in spite of all the previous chatter, the decisive success of yesterday has been wholly in favour of esar has today written to Tichatschek to ask hirin” here on February 26th, and has offered him a fee of fifty louis d'or, an unheard-of sum for Weymar I sent Tichatschek the part soon after the first perforive us the pleasure of co with our request I wish you could write to him direct on thisor Fischer With the perforrin” I am in parts still very much dissatisfied The chief evil lies, as you say, in the as yet unborn representative of the chief part For the perfor prepared for the second act, for the one hitherto used is miserable The question of cuts, as you know, arose only in connection with the second perforain produced the entire work unmutilated With Heine and Fischer, who attended the last perforlorious drahest and most perfect work of art If Herr von Hulsen had invited ive ”Lohengrin” first; and I repeat that in Berlin I will lay any wager on the colossal success of ”Lohengrin”, provided it is given faithfully and enthusiastically, to do which would not be excessively difficult in Berlin with goodwill and true understanding

That Herr von Hulsen hesitates to call me to Berlin does not surprise me, but as you have honoured me with your confidence, I a his last visit here the Prince of Prussia spoke to rin” at Berlin The Prince has a high opinion of you as a poet and musician, and seems to take an interest in the success of your works at Berlin Beyond this I can unfortunately have no influence in theto cook up ”Tannhauser” there In any case do not trouble yourself about the future and contemplate the course of events in an objective mood

When you hear particulars about the ”Tannhauser” performances at Berlin, write to me, for I hear from time to time the most contradictory rumours of pourparlers

Have you received the book about ”Tannhauser” by X? The dedication was quite unexpected to me, because for several months I have not had the old friendly intercourse with the author I shall, however, call on hireeable things which he has causedto here is done with the most troublesome slowness It is therefore no fault of , for I have pushed it on every day The two first pianoforte rehearsals of the ”Flying Dutchuarantee a successful performance on February 16th After the second on the 20th ”Tannhauser” is to be given, and on the 26th ”Lohengrin” will follow Let me ask you once more to persuade Tichatschek not to leave us in the lurch at the latter I have special hopes for this perforrin”, and should not like to let it be spoiled on account of our small means I can assure you, however, that the interest of the public in ”Lohengrin” is in the ascendant; at every perforers in our theatre increase in number, and you are very popular at the various hotels in Weymar, for on the days when one of your operas is performed it is not easy to find a room

One other favour I have recently e procession (I don't kno to narin” (E flat major), and should like to publish these two pieces Tell ht of the melodies of ”Tannhauser”, and whether I ether with the other frorin”, with Hartel As Kistner has already printed the ”Evening Star”, I do not anticipate any particular difficulty in letting Hartel publish the ”Tannhauser” march; at the same time, I should like to be safe from any possible discussion afterwards, and therefore inquire of you how the oes on the lst of January to Hanover as concert-master

A very able violinist, Ferdinand Laub, has been engaged for our orchestra

I ainal notes to your ”Faust” overture have not displeased you In ations

Hartel illingly undertake the printing; and if you will give me particular pleasure, er wanted for the engraving This overture has lain with reat fancy to it If, however, you have disposed of it otherwise, do not ive me some day another manuscript

Au revoir then in a few etting too horribly blunt to write to you One single chord brings us nearer to each other than any number of phrases:--

[score excerpt] Continue to love me, even as I am cordially devoted to you

F L

Your parin” I have read with much interest, and, let us hope, with solad to see that in several indications of te, and that many of your intentions had been realized here in advance H will soon write to you about yesterday's performance

92

BEST OF FRIENDS,

Have not in your version the overture and the close of the last finale of the ”Flying Dutched in accordance with a special score written by me last year? The close of the overture especially has been entirely changed in the instruo to Uhlig, and he wrote to ether with a second score containing the changes in the remainder of the instrumentation Please ask H B; you must have received two scores Look also in your score at the theatre If in that the close of the overture has been considerably changed, and if especially at page 43 a new bar has been inserted, then your score ed after that second one sent to you, and the model copy must still be with you, for in the Dresden score the close of the overture had been only very slightly changed (a little in the violins) Two things I have to ask you: if the second score is with you, send it at once to Dresden, addressed to Choir director W Fischer; if it does not exist at Weiotten to send it to you, and if therefore in your score at the theatre the close of the overture has not been changed e 43, then let Fischer know at once, so that hethis important alteration I shall send him the score which is at the theatre here, and in which I hope the matter has been corrected

To your most important kind letter recently received I shall soon send an anshich, I hope, will please you Today only this business in great haste

Farewell

Ever thine,

RICHARD WAGNER