Wagner, Richard.

seeking the participation of both Betz and Albert Niemann in a revival of the Ring at Bayreuth next summer, asking him to devote six weeks to the production, emphasizing his great admiration for Betz's singing, especially his unforgettable creation of the role of Hans Sachs in Die Meistersinger, his King Marke in Tristan und Isolde and finally his marvellous performance as Wotan at the first Bayreuth Festival in 1876, expressing regret that Betz, alone, left Bayreuth without saying farewell after the Festival, fearing some misunderstanding, which he promises to clear up. 4 pages, 8vo (18.5 x 11.2cms), Rome, 30 November 1876, splitting at folds expertly repaired, some browning

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"...Unsere Meistersinger waren das Beste, was ich je von der Bühne, herab erwirkte: Ihr 'Hans Sachs' mir unvergleichlich und unvergesslich--Ihr 'Marke' vollendet.---Ihr 'Wotan' erstaunlich.  Ich gebrauch hierfür immer wieder diese Bezeichnung.  Keine mir je bekannt gewordene Leistung kommt, schon im Betreff der nie dagewesenen Schwierigkeit durch Ausdehnung und Breite, Ihrem zweiten Akte der Walküre gleich!..."

A fine letter by Wagner about Das Ring der Nibelungen addressed to two stars of the first Bayreuth Festival (both employed at the Hofoper in Berlin).  Franz Betz (1835-1900) sang at the premieres of Die Meistersinger (as Hans Sachs) in 1868 and the first complete Ring in 1876.  Albert Niemann (1831-1917) was the first Tannhäuser in the Paris version in 1861 and sang Siegmund at Bayreuth.  Financial constraints prevented a second Bayreuth Festival being staged until 1882, when Parsifal was given.