ALS in German, 5.25 x 8, February 6, 1859. A beautifully penned letter and address panel in Wagner’s florid hand, translated, in full: “I am indeed highly indebted to you for the kindness and generosity you have extended to me as a friend. Please don’t be angry with me for allowing this conduct of mine to eventually border on intrusiveness. My life is, always has been, exposed to an unending stream of upheavals and uncertainties that inadvertently reflected unfavorably on my personal relationships, as much as I would have wanted avoiding this. I very much regret that the general character of my life’s circumstances often encroached on so many people close to me. Assuming you are pretty well informed of my current situation through the Bülows, a family and friends very dear to me. Consequently you probably know that in these difficult and uncertain times, the sluggish flow of my earnings, which ordinarily would certainly be adequate, causes me much grief and worry. An independently wealthy friend would therefore be of great help by providing the means and support needed to balance these fluctuations. Regrettably, just now I am not so fortunate and thus over the course of this year find myself in considerable financial difficulties. While prospects for a good, I venture to say, abundant flow of income exist, only failed to materialize so far. As I see it, my needs and requirements, mostly caused by extraordinary strokes of fate are unforeseen and cannot be calculated in advance. This much for now, as an explanation for the nerve I recently displayed by asking for more patience with repayment of the sum of money you loaned to me in December of last year. I am enormously indebted for your most generous response and want you to know how much I appreciate this extra ordinary gesture of friendship. Please accept, in addition to my thanks, my sincere and unconditional offer for any service in return.” In very good condition, with a light diagonal crease and scattered light creasing, uniform toning, scattered light soiling, and a few areas of paper loss that have been professionally restored.
When Wagner wrote this letter he was recovering from a tumultuous period in his personal life. He had befriended Otto and Mathilde Wesendonck in Zurich in 1852. An admirer of his music, Otto rented Wagner and his wife Minna a small house on his estate in 1857. Wagner became infatuated with his patron's wife, the poet-writer Mathilde, who returned his affections while being careful not to endanger her own marriage. The likely unconsummated love affair inspired the composer to stop work on the Ring in favor of Tristan und Isolde, a work infused with his passion for Mathilde. When Wagner's wife intercepted a letter he wrote for Mathilde in the summer of 1858, the affair came to an unpleasant end and Wagner removed to Venice alone, where he would complete the second act to Tristan. When he wrote this letter in February of 1859, Wagner's residence in Venice was becoming untenable. In addition to suffering poor health and police harassment from the Austrian authorities, he had run out of money. In March, the unstable political situation between the Italian nationalists and Austrian military finally prompted Wagner to leave Venice for Lucerne, where he would finish Tristan und Isolde in August.
The "Bülows" mentioned in the letter refer to pianist Hans von Bülow and his wife, Cosima Liszt. A few years after this letter was written, Wagner and Cosima would embark on a brazen love affair lasting many years. Cosima would eventually divorce von Bülow to become Wagner's second wife. A remarkable and candid letter, written during a vulnerable period in the composer's life. Pre-certified John Reznikoff/PSA/DNA and RR Auction COA.
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