The instrumentation of the “Rhinegold” is going on apace.  At present I am with the orchestra down in “Nibelheim.”  In May the whole will be ready, but not the clean copy, only single sheets with illegible pencil sketches on them.  It will be some time before you can see anything of it.  In June I have to begin the “Valkyrie.”  When are you coming?  You say nothing about it, and yet you talk of “verbal communications.”  Schindelmeisser wrote to me yesterday, asking me to come to Darmstadt on the sly on Easter Monday, because “Lohengrin” would be splendid.  That I shall leave alone.

Adieu, dearest, dearest Franz.  I have so many things to write to you, that I must close for today.

Convey my best regards.

Your

R. W.

Zurich, April 9th, 1854.

151.

What do you think, dear friend?  Would it be of any use if I sent you a letter to the King of Saxony, which the Grand Duke of Weimar might forward to him through a confidential person (perhaps his ambassador)?  I admit that the Prime Minister of Saxony would be more important than the King, but to such a person I cannot possibly apply.  Would the Grand Duke do this?  Something must be done; I must be able to fly from my ordinary condition at least “off and on,” otherwise—­

How are you?  Do write!

Your

R. W.

152.

For five days, dearest Richard, I have been in bed suffering from catarrh and intermittent fever, and shall probably have to be very careful till next week.

I wrote to Dingelstedt long ago, and asked him to reply to you direct and make the contents of his letter as weighty as possible.  Dingelstedt is a gentleman, and will no doubt behave in such a manner as will satisfy you.

“Lohengrin” and “Tannhauser” were given here last week.  On the first occasion the house was illuminated, because the Grand Duchess visited the theatre for the first time since her confinement.  Gotze (at present professor at the Leipzig Conservatoire, previously for fifteen or twenty years tenor at our theatre) sang “Lohengrin,” and gave the lyrical portions of the part with much greater effect than had previously been the case.  He had studied the part thoroughly at numerous performances, both here and at Leipzig, and therefore sang the music with absolute certainty.  “Tannhauser” drew, as usual, a full house; at the “Lohengrin” performance many strangers who had only arrived in the afternoon had to be refused admission.

Pohl’s wife played the harp part very well, and I asked him to write to you about the performance.  Pohl is a zealous and warm adherent of yours.

The newspapers announce that you are going to conduct the impending Musical Festival in Canton Valais.  Is there any truth in it?  What part will Methfessel take in the direction?  Let me know about this, as I have been asked several times.

——­

I had got so far in my letter when yours was brought