Richard Wagner (1813-1883)
Autograph letter signed ('Rich. Wagner') to an unidentified recipient, Munich, 25 May 1865
In French. Two pages, 205 x 128mm, integral blank.

On the last-minute delay to the premiere of Tristan und Isolde. 'With the greatest sadness of my soul I have heard that the desperate situation in which we are all suffering because of the delay to my Tristan has exasperated you and driven you to violent accusations against the one who is suffering more than all of you at present. I make no complaint to you ... But I still beg you to stay and listen again to Tristan; if it is the only means by which I can hope to manage to console you for what you have to bear, I offer you at the same time all that is in my power to contribute to compensate you for your losses. I also hope to find the means to remove the trouble caused to you by Mr de Lucy, about whom I have just heard news which completely amazes me'. Wagner dares not invite the recipient to dinner, but hopes to see him nevertheless.

After the failure of attempts to stage Tristan in Karlsruhe, Dresden, Weimar, Prague and Vienna (the latter after more than 70 rehearsals), the premiere had finally been fixed for 15 May 1865, at the Nationaltheater in Munich, only to be delayed at the last moment because the Isolde, Malvina Schnorr von Carolsfeld, was suffering from hoarseness: it eventually took place on 10 June.