R. Wagner. Autograph letter signed, to his sister Rosalie, 3 July 1834

Richard Wagner

Early autograph letter to his sister Rosalie, signed ("Richard"), Prague, 3 July 1834 

about the opera in Prague and his first opera Die Feen, in which the twenty-one year old composer describes his journey from Teplitz with Theodore Apel, giving his assessment of the theatre at Prague, including his high opinion of its director J.A. Stöger, who has revitalized standards, developing singers such as the soprano Jenny Lutzer, whose dramatic talents have entranced him and who would make a tremendous Ada in Die Feen; Wagner tells her that he has written out a fair copy of the libretto to his opera, which he intends to present to Stöger, reports seeing the famous actor Ludwig Löwe in the role of Garrick, his plans to meet with the writer Wolfgang Gerle, Prince Kinsky and the composer Dionys Weber (director of the Prague Conservatory), describing his restlessness and depression, which he confesses has been brought on by her unhappy letter and the mere mention of his opera

3 pages, 8vo (c.22.5 x 13cm), Prague, 3 July [1834], the leaves now separate, creasing at folds, with slight splitting, some light foxing

This would appear to be the earliest autograph letter by Richard Wagner to have been offered at auction for several decades. A letter from 1837 was sold in Paris in 2018 and Sotheby's sold one from 1839 in 1982, but none as early as this. Wagner discusses prospects for having his first opera staged, a potential singer for the leading role, and approaching the director of the Opera House at Prague.  

...[Stöger] scheint mir ein prächtiger Mann zu sein; sein Theater steht auf einem ausgezeichneten Fuß. Das Noble der Dekoration, der Garderobe etc verwandelt die Bühne hier in eine ganz andere, ich erkenne sie gar nicht wieder. Die Oper ist vortrefflich, unter Anderen hat sich die Lutzer so ausgebildet, daß sie uns späther einmal die Devrient ersetzen wird. Ich bin entzückt von ihr; --ganz die junge Schule; -- durchaus dramatisch, --noch einige Schritte, und sie ist vollendet. Ich mache mich an sie, --sie ist eine vortrefflche Ada. -- Mein Textbuch habe ich ganz sauber abgeschrieben, und noch heute geb' ich es dem Stöger...

Die Feen was Wagner's first completed opera, composed in 1833, whilst working as a part-time chorus master in Würzburg. By 1834, Wagner was seeking to have his opera staged and he revised the score, including rewriting the principal dramatic scena for Ada, the leading soprano ('Weh' mir, so nah' die fürchterliche Stunde'). Despite his efforts, Die Feen was never performed in his lifetime. Wagner's elder sister Rosalie (1804-1837) was herself a singer in Leipzig, where she tried to promote Wagner's opera. In 1992, Sotheby's offered Rosalie's manuscript diary (almost certainly autograph) describing her time in Leipzig from 1829 to 1836. 

LITERATURE

Richard Wagner, Sämtliche Briefe, volume 1 (1979), no.14 (pp.156-159).