Wagner, Richard - Autograph Letter Signed 1866

Autograph letter in German (sold with translation and transcription) signed by the composer, sent from Geneve on February 18, 1866.  Size is 5.5 x 8.6 inches,  2 written pages in 1 sheet, folds, minor rust tone on the borders, in overall very good condition.

This is an interesting letter because the composer writes from Aux Artichauts -a countryside house near Geneve, where he received bad news about the death of his first wife Minna in Dresden and his dog. While in Geneve, Wagner resumed the composition of Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg he had started in 1865.

In this letter, the composer mentions his work on "Tristan und Isolde" and "Der Ring des Nibelungen", and it was probably sent to the famous conductor Hans von Bülow who would be in charge of the world premiere of Wagner's "Tristan und Isolde" in Munich in June 1865, and Die Meistersinger in June 1868.

ALSO INCLUDED is a vintage engraving by Bruckmann with a portrait of the composer made by H. Herkomer in May 1877. Size is 7.6 x 11.5 inches, minor stains, mounting tape on verso, otherwise in very good condition.