[Wagner, Richard. (1813–1883)] [WAGNERIAN SINGERS] Winkelmann, Hermann. (1849–1912). Autograph Letter. Autograph letter, 2 pp, dated "Wien, 7. 10. 99" from the great Wagnerian tenor who created the first Parsifal in Bayreuth, was London's first Stolzing and Tristan, starred in Vienna with Mahler and in Theodore Thomas's Wagner festivals in New York. His many admirers formed themselves into the "Hermann League," and performances were often disturbed by vociferous outbursts of applause. Translated in full as follows: "Dear Sir,


Returning to the city only just today, I found among many letters that, due to a misunderstanding my people left lying here, your invitation for a concert in Berlin. So I hope you will excuse my delayed response. I would indeed love to sing again in Berlin and would not make any great demands, but I must consider the fact that for dress rehearsal and performance, including the travel time, I would require four days, which will make the whole thing more expensive because of the necessary leave.


The easiest thing would be for you to give me a specific date, which would allow me to request the necessary leave which I would quite certainly be granted. My fee for two performances would be a minimum of 800 marks (eight hundred marks).


I look forward to your response . Respectfully, Hermann Winkelmann."