Wagner, Richard. (1813–1883) & Müller, Adolf. (1839–1901)
Important Correspondence regarding Hamburg performances of 1873
An important series of letters concerning Richard Wagner's Hamburg concerts of January 21 and 23, 1873, primarily from Adolf Müller, but also including letters from Eugen Richter, Fritz Schubert, Zacharias, as well an autograph envelope in the hand of Wagner, and a series of original telegrams from Wagner. The Austrian composer and conductor, Adolf Müller was conductor in Hamburg before returning to Vienna to fill his famous father's positions as Kapellmeister and Hauskomponist at the Theater an der Wien. He is now mostly remembered for his operetta “Wiener Blut,” based on his arrangements of dances by Johann Strauss. Letters in various sizes, formats, all in very good condition with usual folds etc. All letters in German, translated in full as follows:1. Hamburg, den 25. November 1872. Herrn Kapellmeister Müller ...(?). Signed „ Eugen Richter.“ 1 p. „Very honored Sir, The enclosed copy of a letter from Richard Wagner, which, as I only noticed afterwards from the caption on the envelope, was supposed to come to your address, but had my address on it, was further addressed to Conductor Müller, I inform you with this, and have taken the freedom for now, to invite the other gentlemen to come together to a conference for Wednesday noon between 2 and 3 in the editorial restaurant of the "Reform". You will be so kind as to appear also, won't you, so that we can then take care of the next steps. I am keeping the original of Wagner's letter for now, in order to already be effective in the press and to be able to produce a believable document for the pleasant news. With best regards, Yours truly.“
2. Autograph envelope addressed to Adolf Müller in the hand of Richard Wagner. [Enclosure described in item #1]
3. Straßburg, 23 Nov. 72. Autograph letter, copy of Richard Wagner letter in the hand of Eugen Richter [enclosure described in item #1]. 2 pp. “Honored Sir, I am traveling, and only today am I finding the right moment, to thank you for the kind letter from Hamburg, which was forwarded to me. In the brief amount of time which I have today, I agree to support on my part your efforts for my Bayreuth undertaking. Very likely I will be in Berlin for some time in January, and can also come to you in Hamburg at that time. I think you can already announce the concert for the middle of January. Should you find the middle of December more suitable, I could accommodate that. For the program, I would suggest a Beethoven symphony and an appropriate selection of pieces from my older operas: Tannhäuser - Lohengrin - Meistersänger, also Tristan and Isolde. Song - better not at all. - The main thing - : The purpose of the undertaking, a very abundant revenue, which alone - considering the purpose - can induce me to make the sacrifice, again and again at times to be called in as concert producer. As on the other hand, I must not hide the fact, that this winter we must definitely have successes, if my larger enterprise is to thrive, and so I thank you very much for your encouriging accomodation and call myself Yours sincerely, your
very devoted Richard Wagner.“
4. No date. [Addressed to Müller]. In pencil, signed “Zacharias.” 1 p. “Honored Sir, I read with interest the excerpts from Mr. Wagner's letter which you kindly conveyed to me. Mr. Wagner apparently is of the erroneous opinion, that a Society for Bayreuth already exists here, and on this his suggestion is based to want to provide this society with a ...... of the concert here with the corresponding number of patronage vouchers. However, we are in a much more favorable position! We do not have a society yet and thus the quite considerable ..... of the concert will be able to be carried out just like that and without return service to my dear friend Fenstel(?). When the concert is over, and Wagner, with the power of his personality will have stimulated the slow spirits and psyches here, then we can immediately establish the society. I do not doubt, that the greatness of the matter and the personal relationships, which will be started through Wagner's presence here [in Hamburg, the most important things are easily done through connections] I do not doubt that then easily a sufficiant number of patronage vouchers can be placed; but besides that, the society will be able to use the Berlin society as a model, in order to place an additional number of patronage vouchers in just the Berlin way. Once Mr. Wagner is here, we can then let ourselves be oriented by him, and the society will be able to expand its activity to Lübeck, Kiel, and Schwerin.“
5. No date. Geehrter Herr Capellmeister Müller. In pencil, signed “Fritz Schubert.” 1 p. [attached, same folio as letter #4]. “Honored Conductor Müller, In regard to the two concerts of Mr. Richard Wagner, the business arrangements of which you have intrusted me, I inform you that the first concert is already sold out. The continuing active engagement of the audience justifies a second concert in the same way, the result of which should be a sum of 5000 Thaler.“
6. Herrn Richard Wagner. Coel (?) per Adresse der Herr [August] Lesimple(?). Musikalienhandlung. Hbg. (Hamburg) 29. N. (November) 72. [August Lesimple (1827 - ?) was a book dealer and Board member of the Wagner Society in Cologne. In 1884 he published the volume “My Recollections of Richard Wagner.”] Unsigned, but from Adolf Müller . 2 pp.
„ Dear Sir, As your friendly agreement to take over the management of a concert to be organized for the Bayreuth undertaking has put me in the best of moods, I allow myself to give expression to that here, and I am convinced that Hamburg, though having something of a reputation for being materialistic, will not lag behind less well off cities, and thus will demonstrate with its brilliant participation that in spite of its materialism it is also capable "to honor its German masters." After all, their works are received with enthusiasm at every performance. The concert, due to local circumstances, could not take place in December, but in January, which should be all right with you according to your letter of acceptance. Once some of the necessary technical preparations have been achieved, I will be so free as to contact you about the artistic arrangement and will want to accommodate your wishes as much as possible.”
7. To Rich. Wagner. Hbg. (Hamburg), Dez. 7, 72. Signed “Capellmeister Müller .” 2 pp. „Honorable Sir, The preparations for the now definitely scheduled concert are almost completed. The orchestra consists of 102 musicians, exactly: I. violin 22, II. violin 20, viola 12, violoncello 10, contrabass 10, 3 flutes, 2 oboes, 1 flugelhorn, 2 clarinets, 1 B horn(?), 2/3 bassoons, 4 horns, 3 trumpets, 3 trombones, 1 tuba, 1 timpani, 3 percussion instruments, 1 harp. Should you wish to make any changes, I ask you to please let me know. Sygmunds Liebeslieder are taken care of by Mr. Lederer, the local representative of Lohengrin and Walther v. Stetzing(?); he is very popular here and has done very well with the above parts. The typical arrangement of the concert, a sale of the tickets, hall arrangements etc.(?) are taken care of by the music company Fritz Schuberth for now(?). The participation of the public is quite extraordinary, and all the tickets are already sold out. I am asking you now, please to be so kind and notify me of the time of your arrival, as I must make the arrangements for the necessary rehearsals.“
8. H. (Herrn) Richard Wagner. Hamburg 16. Dezb. 72. Signed “Adolf Müller .” 3 pp. “Honored Sir, I am in the position to give you further information about the local concert matter. The days on which it could take place are either 6 and 8, or 21st and 23rd of January. As the participation of the public is already [although the concert has not yet been announced publicly] quite unusual, presumably a second concert evening would be desirable, under the condition that you would also agree to be there. The orchestra, consisting of some 70(?) members, shall be reinforced considerably for your concert; the performance itself takes place in the large concert garden which is always used for such purposes. Would you now be so kind as to choose from the above named dates, and notify me as soon as possible of your decision; also, I would really appreciate to already find out something definite about the program chosen by you [possibly for 2 evenings], so that I can make the necessary preparations. Should your time not allow to arrive here in order to be able to lead all rehearsals yourself, then I will conduct the necessary pre-rehearsals, in order to then be able to deliver to you the thus prepared orchestra. I beseech you once more urgently, if possible immediately to be so good and tell me the time of your ... concert ....Only that way will I then look forward to your coming here like to a joyous holiday, which indeed it shall be for all whose heart is joyfully anticipating your arrival just like mine.
9. Richard Wagner. Berlin…Weitzmann…platz 4. Hbg. (Hamburg) 1/14/73. Signed “Adolf Müller.” 4 pp [together with 4pp. autograph draft for the present letter]. “As I already informed you in my letter ..., the technical arrangement of the whole thing is being taking care of by the music company F... Huberth, and you will see from the following lines [which I received only today], that the income of the two concerts would amount to about 5000 Thalers, a sum, which would completely go to the Bayreuth undertaking, without having to ask for patronage vouchers, as an actual "Wagner Society" has not yet been founded here, as also there is no mention of such in my letters to you. But now it appears that only a stimulus would be needed, to which your presence here would greatly contribute, in order to start a society here. Already one of our most respected merchants, Mr. Zacharias, one of your truest admirers and a special acquaintance and friend of building officer F. Ferstel in Bayreuth has agreed to [as he encouraged me to tell you] become very active here in marketing patronage vouchers; his connections to the "stock market", which rules everything here, vouch for the favorable success, and thus I am convinced, that through your presence here the material success for the undertaking also would seem to be assured. --- Your wish concerning the duplication of the parts (or: mood?) shall certainly be accomplished. On account of the upcoming rehearsals, it is desirable that you arrive here already on the 19th, and I assume from your telegram that the rehearsals would take place the following times: Saturday 19, morning, Monday 20, morning, and afternoon the dress rehearsal. On the 21st the concert. For the second concert, which takes place on the 23rd, the program would remain the same. and only the symphony would be changed according to your wish. If it is possible for you to arrive before the 19th, all the better; in any case, I ask you please, if possible immediately by wire, to inform me of the day and hour of your arrival, so that all other necessary arrangements can also be made. [Postscript: Just before sending this letter, I am receiving the following note from Mr. Zacharias, which I take the freedom to include.]”
10. Mrs.(?) I. Iartmann(?) Wagner Berlin. [No date, evidently related to letter #9, ca. 1/14/1873.] Initialled „A.M.“ 1p. „ Honored gracious lady! I have consulted with Mr. Zacharias, who also wanted to write to you. The sale of patronage vouchers is going pretty well so far; once about 15 have been accepted, a "Wagner-Society" is supposed to form here, which will take care of further marketing. It goes without saying that I will continue to take care of the matter with full commitment, I am after all the actual cause of it, and I will be so free as to inform you, as soon as the matter has reached a further step.
Take the assurance of my most exquisite esteem with which I am always your devoted.“
11. Richard Wagner 19/9/78. Signed “Adolf Müller.” 4 pp. “Most honorable master! Having been absent from here almost the entire summer, I am only now able to answer your letter. Things here have changed substantially, for one, --- in the ... .... have remained the same here. The hitherto director of the local "German Opera" has died over the summer; I was not able to inform him of your [as I realize quite just] reproach. The management of the opera is now in the hands of the B...(?) Ver(?) of the deceased of Mr. Carl Pläging(?). I will tell him about your letter ---- and the answer? Well, the answer was just the answer of a theatre director, of a businessman, and was to be expected. One made(?) the mistake, that no contract and ...(?) at all exists between Holland and other countries for the protection of intellectual property, and one performs shamelessly and with impunity German and other works, as soon as these can be had for a certain price in the book-trade. That I with my operation cannot do anything against this "custom[?]", entrenched for years, is unfortunately understandable. How much more must this behavior towards your works appear strange to you, as especially these works are certain of a steadily growing popularity in all of Holland. I have a felicitous orchestra available here, the local performance of the Walküre can generally be described as more than good. It must have been so, for already after the first performance, I received the request from the Brussel Wagner Society to give a concert with my artists there. Upon my suggestion, the entire Rotterdam orchestra participated in this concert [May 4], as well as the singers Miss Reichl, [Sieglinde], Jan Groß [Siegmund], and Fischer [Hunding und Wotan] without any honorarium. [Only Mrs. Faire requested and received one]. You may conclude from this that the enthusiasm for the good cause here among the artists is lively and enthusiastic. I should be pleased if this Brussel concert of Rister(?) will further(?) bring a handsome sum into the Bayreuth fund(?). thinking of the over- crowded hall [Theatre de la Manndie(?)] one can only hope. Mr. Louis Brassim(?), head of the B.W. Society, was very close-lipped towards me on this point; it would very much interest me to learn something about this. And now, highly revered master, don't hold against me, what others are guilty of, and what the circumstances cause and accept. Should I on the other hand be deprived of the intimate contact with your works? I cannot very well believe that.“
12. Autograph note in pencil, no date. Unsigned. 2 pp. „To Mr. Richard Wagner Bayreuth. Request for exact day of your arrival on account of scheduling rehearsals as well as sending of the ...... The Society for Music and Science is thinking of giving a banquet in honor of your presence Monday the 20th. on account of (insert?) by president Dr. Baumeister, Chairman of the local citizenry we may hope for their acceptance on your part ....”
13. Autograph note in pencil, no date. Signed „Society for Art and Science.” 2 pp. “Richard Wagner, Dresden, Hotel Bellevue. From your telegram to conductor Müller be believe we can read your acceptance of our wish to be honored by your presence for a celebratory banquet in your honor on January 20. We thank you for this and ask that you confirm it by telegram, in order for us to take care of other invitations and preparations.”
14. Five Telegrams, including 3 from Richard Wagner, and one sent on his behalf. On paper „Telegraphie des Deutschen Reiches“ as follows:
„Your Nr 463 to Mr. Richard Wagner ... cannot be sent Address cannot be found. [sender: Adolf Müller]“
„ Conductor A Mueller Dammthorstrasze 6 Hamburg. = please ... send quickly the name of my inn ... reply payed.= Richard Wagner“
“Conductor A Mueller Dammthorstrasze 6 Hamburg. = Now the circumstances being clarified I accept. arrive saturday evening 8 o`clock and ask, as unfamiliar with Hamburg, please arrange for good lodging for me, my wife, and one servant. Looking forward to meeting in person = Richard Wagner“
„ Hamburg Dresden Adolf Mueller Damthorstr.6 = Hamburg ==
just wrote to you, if necessary 19 morning in Hamburg, noon Thergarten Hotel Berlin = Wagner.“
“Hamburg de Bayreuth 348 12/17 n Conductor Adolph Mueller Damthorstrasse 6 Hamburg= Mr. Wagner already left. Dresden Hotel Bellevue when telegram arrived probably 20 in Hamburg. Parts will be sent tomorrow; signature is missing.“ (2496)
TLS Opera