Richard Wagner. Four autograph letters signed, including to E.W. Fritzsch in Leipzig, 1872-1878

Richard Wagner

Four autograph letters signed ("Richard Wagner"; "R. Wagner")

1) to [his publisher E.W. Fritzsch in Leipzig], about the Gesammelte Schriften und Dichtungen, informing him that he returned the manuscript of volumes five to eight the day before, discusssing the contents of the ninth volume, asking him to send copies to Otto Wesendonck, Marie Moukhanoff and the writer Nohl, and providing him with news concerning the preparations of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony in Vienna, Berlin, Dresden and elsewhere, 2 pages, 8vo, Lucerne, 6 March 1872, splitting along central fold, browning

2) to [Kapellmeister Hermann Zumpe in Würzburg], telling him that he is unable to recommend him for a position anywhere given the antipathy of theatre intendants towards himself, and advising him to be patient, since he himself had fared no better, 1 page, 8vo, integral blank,Bayreuth, 4 December 1877, tear to fold of integral, slight splitting to fold of first leaf, somewhat faded

3) to [Franz Jauner, director of the Vienna Hofoper], recommending the tenor Jäger for the role of Siegfried, 1 page, 8vo, Bayreuth, 4 May 1878

4) to [Ludwig von Bürkel in Munich], assuring him of the value to him of his friendship, and expressing the hope that he may visit so that he can meet him in the flesh and thank him cordially for his zealous assistance, UNPUBLISHED, 1 page, 8vo, Bayreuth, 22 May [Wagner's birthday] 1878

...Alle diese Intendanten sind mir persönlich abgeneigt. Ich kann Niemand Stellen verschaffen...wirklich kann es mich nur quälen, wenn [man] glaubt ich könnte helfen, und wollte es nicht. Ich bin den Theatern ganz fremd...

LITERATURE:

1) Sämtliche Briefe, vol.24 (2015), pp.102-103 (no.85; only partially edited from the autograph); WBV 6070 ; 2) WBV 7884; first published in Hermann Zumpe, Persönliche Erinnerungen nebst Mitteilungen aus seinen Tagesbuchblättern und Briefen (Munich, 1905), pp.45-46; 3) WBV 7581; excerpt published in Stargardt cat. 576 (27/28 May 1966), p.132; 4) WBV 7992; copy in the Bayreuth Nationalarchiv