For the moment my business is finished here and I am only staying to-day to hear Norma with Mme. Lind and at last redeem my promise to meet Mme. Frommann and Professor Werder. As I don't want to leave you in the dark, my little pet, about the results of my efforts until my arrival, I will tell you briefly what I have done, as follows: (1) Kistner wants to produce Rienzi in September of next year. (2) Count Redern wants the King to commission me to compose my next new opera [Lohengrin] for Berlin. I have quite satisfied myself that it is impossible to get one of my operas produced here before Easter. Last Wednesday I dined in brilliant company with Redern, who wanted to arrange for me to read the libretto of my new opera to the King myself. That would have meant staying here all next week, however, for yesterday the King went hunting with Redern, etc., and will not be back before Monday. Mme. Meyerbeer, whose great cordiality and interest have overwhelmed me, thinks very highly of Redern's plan that I should receive the Royal commission for my next opera for Berlin. Her husband returns at Christmas and everything is to be settled then. If Rienzi can still be produced in the meantime, so much the better.
Richard Wagner
Source: Letters of Richard Wagner, Volume 1, ed. Altmann/Hull (London: Dent, 1927), No. 118