My Viennese ship is answering the helm famously. On Monday afternoon at 4 o'clock there is to be an important meeting at Fischhof's where my plan is to be submitted to them all for acceptance. After my name had appeared in the list of visitors I at once received a number of calls, among others from Dr. Bacher, very rich and enthusiastic, who was very pleased with my project. I have also won another influential supporter in Privy-Councillor Vesque von Piittlingen, composer, under the name of “Hoven,” of the opera Jeanne d'Arc. He was enchanted with my scheme and at once asked for copies for the Ministers to acquaint them with the matter in advance. But they all think that I could only get the Karntnertor-Theater on one condition, which is that I resign from Dresden and take over the re-equipment and management of this theatre. I said that in Dresden I had a Royal appointment for life with a fine salary, etc., but that if my hopes for Vienna were fully realised I hoped my King would shortly release me. They were all satisfied with this.
I am with Fischhof and we are almost always together, as he takes me about with him everywhere. He is a most excellent fellow, with an uncommonly wide circle of acquaintance and very well thought of by all, high and low.
For the rest, the chief difference between Vienna and all other towns at present is that there is no party friction here. There is one party only, the Radical. The Court Party is established at Innsbruck, but no one troubles his head about it.
Richard Wagner
Source: Letters of Richard Wagner, Volume 1, ed. Altmann/Hull (London: Dent, 1927), No. 144