I have only just found peace to sit down and write to you. The first two days in Vienna have been very exciting, particularly all the running backwards and forwards. Now I will tell you all about it! The journey was slow. We did not reach Breslau till eight o'clock in the evening. After I had had a hurried look at the town I visited Mosevius, who was immensely glad to see me, and we sat up together till one. The next day but one, Saturday, we set out for Vienna at two o'clock in the afternoon. After a horrible night, third-class on the Austrian railway inflicted the torments of hell, I got to Vienna on Sunday morning at 8.
Even in Breslau I felt as if I had exchanged Dresden for Paris, this magnificent democratic life: burghers with white staves instead of police, the National Guard in blouses and plumed hats, public hawkers at every street corner selling news-sheets, “No more Monarchy! Inauguration of the Two-Chamber System,” etc. At a railway station in Moravia we met the new Governor. All stations were decorated with German flags. But as for Vienna, seen again on a beautiful bright Sunday, I must say it quite enchanted me! I have found Paris again, only more beautiful, gayer and German. During the sixteen years since last I saw it the whole city has been renovated. Its half-million inhabitants, bedecked in the German colours, paraded the streets on Sunday in jubilation. On the previous Saturday evening a wavering, incapable Ministry had just been overthrown by the energy of the National Committee! You ought to see these people's faces. Everything which repels you in the Dresden people you would find different and attractive here.
Yesterday at last I met Bauernfeld. He is now a thorough hypochondriac. I heard that he was quite insane for a couple of months. He takes the most gloomy view and thinks the times hopelessly unsuitable for starting rehearsals. He may be right, but I am not going to lose all my trouble on that account, and at midday to-day have a rendezvous with a Dr. Frankl, whom even Bauernfeld recommended to me as very active, clever and influential.
12th July. I wanted to write more yesterday afternoon, but did not get home, as from now on I am in the thick of Viennese hospitality. I have found my man, namely Professor Fischhof, a man who possesses my operas. I met him at midday yesterday and spent the whole day with him and far into the night. Do you know, he seemed to understand my whole being and aspirations forthwith. Even before I told him of my plan he said he was delighted that I liked Vienna, for he might in that case hope I would some time settle here and exercise a wide influence. I then laid my scheme before him. He entered into it at once and proposed the following plan of campaign. The new Minister of Education, Exner, a man of very able brain of whom everyone expects great things, is Fischhof's friend. He will introduce me to him and we shall then try to get the Minister to embody the matter in his draft budget for expenditure on public instruction and to nominate a commission to go into the subject and decide how much can be put in force immediately as a beginning. In any case there is one thing which has to be considered: the present complete pre-occupation of all politicians in the critical political situation. Still, I am pressing on and am urging that the principle shall at least have official recognition, and that it shall be put into execution when and where possible, a matter which chiefly concerns the Karntnertor-Theater, which is now without a manager and on the point of being wound up. Fischhof has high hopes and thinks there is money to be had in Vienna.
Even if the whole plan cannot be carried out forthwith, after this very sympathetic reception I feel sure that my presence here will bear fruit.
Richard Wagner
Source: Letters of Richard Wagner, Volume 1, ed. Altmann/Hull (London: Dent, 1927), No. 143