I am in a very ill humour. A month ago I was burning to begin composing The Valkyrie and wanted to write forthwith to Sitten, refusing, but kindly consideration prevented my doing so. I set out, planted myself on Karl on Lake Geneva, spent two days of atrocious boredom at Sitten till I was surfeited with the whole pack and then, not wishing to make an exhibition of myself, departed all of a sudden without leave-taking. I looked up Karl and Hornstein. From Geneva at last I visited the former at his villa and there met Hornstein. I found the foolish fellow a great joke. I took an interest in his sonatas and in his rendering of them. I advised him to make a fair copy of six for publication, to which I would lend my willing aid. It is very dull at Karl's for any length of time and, besides, I would rather that his wife did not remind me so much of Drasen. Still, I don't altogether dislike her, but I wonder how long Karl will carry on with her. That between ourselves!
After spending a fortnight on the Seelisberg on the Lake of Lucerne, where my wife was taking a cure, back I come feeling very annoyed about three wretched weeks spent away from my work. It is all over for me: I have nothing to hope for from without, by way of change of scene, etc., and if I haven't my own work to fall back upon I am done for. But out of sheer vexation I dare not trust myself to begin again as yet. I would have sent you a part of The Rhinegold by now if it were not for a scoundrel of a copyist here who keeps me waiting for copy. It is a good thing that you are so enthusiastic about Fraulein Johanna Wagner. You save me the trouble.
Why have you not included in the March from Tannhauser (as a trio, like Liszt) the Entry of the Minstrels (G major) and the Page-boys (E flat major)? I thought you would grasp the complex of melodies as a whole picture. Otherwise there is no meaning in such an arrangement. The actual opera must be given up altogether. Boom told me it ought to play well, but I did not see it.
Richard Wagner
Source: Letters of Richard Wagner, Volume 1, ed. Altmann/Hull (London: Dent, 1927), No. 266