Richard WagnerAutograph letter signed ("R. Wagner"), to his friend the music critic Wilhelm Tappert, ONLY PARTLY PUBLISHED
asking him to withdraw his article [Tappert's article for the Bayreuther Blätter], arguing that the journal must remain idealistic, being a place where one has to proceed in a fundamental way ("...wo wir...nur fundamental verfahren müssen..."), claiming that his [Tappert's] article would look odd next to his own [Wollen wir hoffen?], stating that he reads his publication [the Allgemeine deutsche Musikzeitung, edited by Tappert] each week, alluding to [the Intendant of the Berlin Court Opera,] Botho von Hülsen, humorously suggesting that he visit for a few days when they could go through the scores of Brahms's two symphonies, something which would certainly give him something to write about
...Jetzt - seien Sie gut, und nicht böse wenn ich - trotz meiner Frau und trotz Wolzogen - Sie bitte, Ihren Artikel von uns zurückzuziehen...Nun aber nochmals: Aber! - Freund, was könnten gerade Sie uns leisten wenn Sie auf eine genaue Kritik der Musik unserer Jetzigkeit sich einlassen würden. Nichts weiter wünschte ich , als: Sie kämen...für einige Tage, brächten z.B die beiden Symphonien von Brahms u.s.w. mit, und wir gingen einmal zusammen das Alles durch! Ich sage weiter nichts! Da - würde etwas herauskommen!...
3 pages, 8vo, Bayreuth, 2 May 1879, splitting along folds, two tiny tears with paper loss, some light spotting
together with: a letter signed by Wagner, to Julius Bauer in Braunschweig, concerning Das Liebesverbot, Bayreuth, 13 November 1878, 2 pages, envelope; four autograph letters signed by Cosima Wagner expressing in one letter her concern for Wagner ("...doch bin ich in Sorge, und wäre wohl dankbar wenn dieser Kelch an mir vorüber ging!..."), 9 pages, various sizes, Ems and elsewhere, 1877, where indicated; one letter signed by Cosima, to an unnamed correspondent, concerning Parsifal, Bayreuth, 6 August 1887, 1 page; and also including three typed letters, signed, respectively, by Winifred Wagner, and Friedelind, Wolfgang, Wieland and Verena Wagner, and Wieland Wagner, 5 pages, 1931 and 1951; a letter of Siegfried Wagner in the hand of Eva Wagner, 2 pages, 7 May 1901; an autograph postcard signed by Wieland Wagner, and also inscribed and signed by Winifred Wagner, 1 page, postmarked 1926; a visiting card of Siegfried Wagner and a postcard photograph of Siegfried Wagner and Winifred Wagner, signed by Siegfried Wagner
Wagner's letter is a masterclass in diplomacy. Had Tappert's article appeared in Wagner's 'house' journal Bayereuther Blätter, this might have caused a public quarrel with the Berlin Court Opera Intendant, Botho von Hülsen, of whom Tappert was evidently critical. By requesting him to withdraw his article, on the grounds that the Bayreuther Blätter should remain a forum only for idealist concerns, Wagner ingeniously turns down his friend and avoids a potentially harmful spat with a powerful opera administrator.
We are grateful for the kind assistance of John Deathridge in our cataloguing of this lot.
LITERATURE:WBV 8162
Richard WagnerAutograph letter signed ("R. Wagner"), to his friend the music critic Wilhelm Tappert, ONLY PARTLY PUBLISHED
asking him to withdraw his article [Tappert's article for the Bayreuther Blätter], arguing that the journal must remain idealistic, being a place where one has to proceed in a fundamental way ("...wo wir...nur fundamental verfahren müssen..."), claiming that his [Tappert's] article would look odd next to his own [Wollen wir hoffen?], stating that he reads his publication [the Allgemeine deutsche Musikzeitung, edited by Tappert] each week, alluding to [the Intendant of the Berlin Court Opera,] Botho von Hülsen, humorously suggesting that he visit for a few days when they could go through the scores of Brahms's two symphonies, something which would certainly give him something to write about
...Jetzt - seien Sie gut, und nicht böse wenn ich - trotz meiner Frau und trotz Wolzogen - Sie bitte, Ihren Artikel von uns zurückzuziehen...Nun aber nochmals: Aber! - Freund, was könnten gerade Sie uns leisten wenn Sie auf eine genaue Kritik der Musik unserer Jetzigkeit sich einlassen würden. Nichts weiter wünschte ich , als: Sie kämen...für einige Tage, brächten z.B die beiden Symphonien von Brahms u.s.w. mit, und wir gingen einmal zusammen das Alles durch! Ich sage weiter nichts! Da - würde etwas herauskommen!...
3 pages, 8vo, Bayreuth, 2 May 1879, splitting along folds, two tiny tears with paper loss, some light spotting
together with: a letter signed by Wagner, to Julius Bauer in Braunschweig, concerning Das Liebesverbot, Bayreuth, 13 November 1878, 2 pages, envelope; four autograph letters signed by Cosima Wagner expressing in one letter her concern for Wagner ("...doch bin ich in Sorge, und wäre wohl dankbar wenn dieser Kelch an mir vorüber ging!..."), 9 pages, various sizes, Ems and elsewhere, 1877, where indicated; one letter signed by Cosima, to an unnamed correspondent, concerning Parsifal, Bayreuth, 6 August 1887, 1 page; and also including three typed letters, signed, respectively, by Winifred Wagner, and Friedelind, Wolfgang, Wieland and Verena Wagner, and Wieland Wagner, 5 pages, 1931 and 1951; a letter of Siegfried Wagner in the hand of Eva Wagner, 2 pages, 7 May 1901; an autograph postcard signed by Wieland Wagner, and also inscribed and signed by Winifred Wagner, 1 page, postmarked 1926; a visiting card of Siegfried Wagner and a postcard photograph of Siegfried Wagner and Winifred Wagner, signed by Siegfried Wagner
Wagner's letter is a masterclass in diplomacy. Had Tappert's article appeared in Wagner's 'house' journal Bayereuther Blätter, this might have caused a public quarrel with the Berlin Court Opera Intendant, Botho von Hülsen, of whom Tappert was evidently critical. By requesting him to withdraw his article, on the grounds that the Bayreuther Blätter should remain a forum only for idealist concerns, Wagner ingeniously turns down his friend and avoids a potentially harmful spat with a powerful opera administrator.
We are grateful for the kind assistance of John Deathridge in our cataloguing of this lot.
LITERATURE:WBV 8162
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