Mornex, near Geneva, 20th June, 1856. I think it is now time to come to terms with you about the future publication of my "Nibelung" dramas, or whatever I am to call the whole. As long ago as 1852 you mentioned the matter in a letter and expressed a wish to know that I was reserving this work for publication by you. Naturally I could not say anything further at that time, since even the poem was not completely finished. I have since been obliged to have a few copies of the poem printed, for the purpose of distribution to friends, at my own expense.
Since then I have proceeded so far as to finish the composition of the first two pieces. The Rhinegold and The Valkyrie are fully scored and ready for performance. This summer, as soon as my health has been, as I hope, fully restored, I am eager to set Young Siegfried to music and next year the concluding piece, Siegfried's Death, should also be completed, so that I am counting definitely on the whole being finished by the summer of 1858. Accordingly I have settled on the summer of 1859 for the first performance.
I am hoping to have achieved in my Nibelungs a popular and national work in the noblest sense of the word, and am of opinion that even the poem will not be without general interest of a serious kind for the nation. I have been told by experts that the difficulties of an actual staged representation may easily be overcome; nevertheless I could only allow a first performance to take place under special conditions, and to this end I propose to arrange a great dramatic musical festival, for which I propose to assemble the best personnel I can get together at some well-chosen spot and give with them, in the course of several summer months, a series of performances of the whole.
The further fate of the work must then be directed as follows. Repetitions of the whole will probably next be given in the largest German cities by the company formed by myself. Particularly well-equipped theatres, such as Berlin, could arrange such performances for themselves. After that, however, all theatres will be given the option by me of giving each of the separate pieces alone as required, so that in time probably all the four pieces will be embodied in the repertoire of the theatre as occasion offers and I shall wink an eye, that is to say, overlook it. The fact that all this will naturally impart an entirely new direction and tendency to the methods of German opera is a consequence which, far from frightening me off, fires me to go on. If you should be inclined to associate yourselves with this great enterprise, the next question will be as to how my present position may be eased by your accession. Naturally I cannot as yet urge you to come to any specific terms, particularly in the matter of an honorarium, but on the contrary must await the results of the performance before making any fixed agreement with my publisher.
Richard Wagner
Source: Letters of Richard Wagner, Volume 1, ed. Altmann/Hull (London: Dent, 1927), No. 303