It remains therefore a perfect mystery where my “Tristan” is to see the light of the world.  The birth would probably be most easy if I were to trust the King of Hanover with the delivery.  Niemann declares that the King would engage any singer, male or female, whom I should require for the model performance of my work as long as that performance took place at Hanover.  This might lead to something; that King appears liberal and magnificent in his passion for art, and nothing else will suit me.  Let us hope that my political situation will be no obstacle.

For the present my Paris enterprise occupies me altogether, and mercifully obscures my view of future German misery.  I do not know what rumours are current with you as to the difficulties placed in my way.  They may be well intended, but they are false.  Never yet has the material of an excellent performance been placed at my disposal so fully and unconditionally as has been done at Paris for the performance of “Tannhauser” at the Grand Opera, and I can only wish that some German prince would do the same for my new works.  This is the first triumph of my art which I personally witness.  I owe it to the success of my works in Germany, which has gained me such warm admirers, that the Emperor, on the strength of their word, has issued a truly imperial command, which makes me master of the whole material, and protects me from all intrigues.  A translation, as excellent as could have possibly been expected, is another earnest of general success.  I have secured the best singers that are to be had, and the preparations in every department are made with a zeal and a care to which Germany has little accustomed me.  All the leading people go with pleasure to a task which offers them a more interesting occupation than is usual.  I also take the matter seriously.  I am removing such weak points as I have discovered in the score.  I take great delight in the re-writing of the great Venus scene, and hope to improve the effect thereby.  The ballet scene also will be executed on the larger scale designed by me.

Unfortunately I have not yet been able to begin this necessary work in the proper way.  Before my journey to the Rhine the translation occupied me exclusively, and on my return here I had, first of all, to complete a little piece of literary work which has only just been finished.  M. Frederic Villot, about whom H. has probably spoken to you, asked me to publish an edition of my operatic poems in a prose-translation, and to add a preface explaining my ideas.  This I have done, and I hope that the opus will appear about the beginning of October at the latest.  The rehearsals are in full swing, but unfortunately I had to object to the baritone at the last moment.  Fould had at once to give orders for the engagement of a new singer, but we have not yet found the right man, and this has caused a slight delay.  There has, however, been no trace of ill-will on the part of any one.  M., who is working here in his underhand way, will not, after all, be able to do anything against the Emperor and the cause; he is trying, however, to secure the good engagements which have been made for me for his own benefit later on.  Well, I do not grudge him this; the man has no real initiative.