When Herr von Holtei discharged Herr Musikdirector Lobmann, although I was exceedingly sorry and had made several vain attempts to prevent it, I felt I ought to use the occasion to relieve my own far from flourishing pecuniary situation, and therefore suggested that I should take on Lobmann's duties until the end of my contract. Herr von Holtei, however, replied that he could not accept the proposal and that the operas and vaudeville should instead be conducted by the leader of the orchestra until a new music director was appointed.
You will at once perceive from this refusal that the management held me in no sense bound to those subordinate functions. The music director engaged with me did in fact rehearse and conduct operettas such as Ochsenmenuett, Schwestern von Prag and Rochus Pumpernickel, and I was actually superior to him in function. The duties of the post have meanwhile naturally fallen to me, and I now ask you to agree to the proposal formerly made to Herr von Holtei and here renewed.
I do not wish to appear unaccommodating or lacking in zeal. On the contrary, I here offer to do all that is within my power. I will cheerfully work day and night for the theatre and undertake every duty I can possibly cope with, but I want to be remunerated for it. Once more, then, I request from you a total remittance of my advance, and in return I offer to undertake anything you like to heap upon my shoulders, with the sole exception of boot-cleaning and water-carrying.
Richard Wagner
Source: Letters of Richard Wagner, Volume 1, ed. Altmann/Hull (London: Dent, 1927), No. 44