“A request à propos of the Opéra!” exclaimed the Emperor, surprised.
“Yes, Sire, à propos of an opera which, above all others, I should like to see represented here. It would be the happiness of my life.”
“And what is this marvellous opera?” asked the Emperor.
“It is by Richard Wagner, Sire, one of the greatest of living composers. It is called ‘Tannhäuser’; it is done at Vienna, and, although it is not admired by everybody, connaisseurs regard it as a chef-d’œuvre.”
“‘Tannhäuser!’ Richard Wagner!” said the Emperor, stroking his moustache in the well-known way. “I have never heard either of this opera or of the composer. And you think it is really a fine work?”
I replied affirmatively, whereupon the Emperor, turning towards the Grand Chamberlain, Comte Bacciochi, who superintended the imperial theatres, said, in his simple fashion: “You hear, Bacciochi? Mme. la Princesse de Metternich is interested in an opera called ‘Tannhäuser,’ by one Richard Wagner; she would like to see it represented here. Have it produced.”
That is how “Tannhäuser” came to be performed in Paris.
While preparations were being made for introducing the composer of “Tannhäuser” to the Parisians in 1861, Liszt happened to be staying in the French capital. The Emperor and the Empress Eugénie had heard that the Abbé was amongst them, and they expressed to Princesse de Metternich their desire to see and hear him. I was asked to bring him to the Tuileries, and Liszt received an invitation in due form. After dinner Liszt came in, and charmed everybody by his playing--notably of one of Schubert’s waltzes. The next day the Emperor charged my husband to present the Cross of the Légion d’Honneur to Liszt, and to thank him on behalf of the Emperor and Empress for the delight he had given them.
On Sunday, March 12, 1861, the eve of the première, Wagner wrote to the great cantatrice, Marie Sass, whom he addressed “Mlle. Marie Sax”:
Ne savez-vous pas que l’on refuse même à la cour des places, puisqu’il n’y a plus?
Croyez-moi, je suis déchiré de tous cotés et prêt à me jeter dans l’eau!
Envoyez pourtant demain matin pour voir s’il y avez [_sic_] possibilité de vous procurer _une_ place. Je ne parle pas de plus.
Pardonnez et soyez bonne à votre très dévoué.