At the sixth concert, 28th May, another of those lengthy programmes was gone through, and comprised—
| Symphony in G minor | C. Potter. |
| Aria (“Il Seraglio”) | Mozart. |
| Concerto, violin, Mr. Sainton | Beethoven. |
| Sicilienne | Pergolesi. |
| Overture (“Leonora”) | Beethoven. |
| Symphony, A minor | Mendelssohn. |
| Aria (“Non mi dir”) | Mozart. |
| Song, “O ruddier than the cherry” | Handel. |
| Overture (“Der Berg-geist”) | Spohr. |
Think of the anger of Wagner! two symphonies and two overtures in the same evening, besides the vocal music and concerto! This was the fourth concert at which a double dose of symphony and overture was administered to an audience incapable of digesting such a surfeit; it was these “full” programmes, reminding him of the cry of the London omnibus conductors, “full inside,” which led him humorously to speak of himself as “conductor of the Philharmonic Omnibus.” In the subjoined letter addressed to my wife, anent their daily promenade for the “banquetting,” as he called it, of the ducks in the Regent’s Park, he subscribes himself as above.
Carissima Sorella: Croyez-vous le temps assez bon, pour entreprendre notre promenade? Si vous avez le moindre doute, et comme l’affaire ne presse pas du tout, je vous prie de vous en dispenser pour aujourd’hui. Faites-moi une toute petite reponse si je dois venir vous chercher dans un Hansom, ou non?
En tous cas je gouterai des 4 heures des delices de votre table!
Votre cordialement, dévoúé frère,
Richard Wagner,
Conductor d’omnibus de la Société
Philharmonique, 1855.
The letter was sent by hand, as his rooms were but ten minutes from my house. Perhaps I may here reproduce another short note from Wagner to my wife, with no other intention than showing the degree of close friendship that existed between him and us:—
Ma Très Chère Sœur Léonie: Si vous voulez je viendrai demain (Samedi) diver avec vous à 6 heures le soir. Pour Dimanche il m’a fallu accepter une invitation pour Camberwell, que je ne pouvais absolument pas refuser. Serez-vous contente de me voir demain?
Votre très obligé frère,
Richard Wagner.