Your patience is greatly tried, old fellow, but what can one do when the precious board of works declares authoritatively that the settings will not be finished by Thursday? We were in doubt whether to postpone the performance for one day, but Friday is a bad day for the theatre, what with superstition and Magdeburg society. We had much better postpone it at once till Monday, which is absolutely the best day for the theatre, especially for drama, and the performance can only improve by so slight a delay. Don't despair about it at any rate, and amuse yourself as best you can on the rack during the interval; it would nevertheless be a better plan if you were to come here. There will be rehearsals at the theatre from Wednesday. Last Tuesday we had La Muette de Portici, by Auber, and at last we have restored the prestige of our opera. People were so struck by the success of this opera that nothing else is talked of in Magdeburg. It is to be repeated to-day. Everyone, I would have you know, pulled well together, and Minna herself joined in the chorus singing. Now, just a little patience and don't bite my head off, do you hear?
Richard Wagner
Source: Letters of Richard Wagner, Volume 1, ed. Altmann/Hull (London: Dent, 1927), No. 16