WAGNER Richard [Leipzig, 1813 - Venice, 1883], German composer. Letter signed, addressed to Oscar Bornemann. 1 page in-8° in French, stamped envelope enclosed. "It is very difficult for me to answer your question. I have no connection with the musical hierarchy, and it is because I have no confidence in the various conservatories in Germany that I had undertaken to form a school of art in Munich. It would take too much time to tell you what got in the way of my undertaking, in short, the way I understand the profession of music and the art of making it understood and performed, is not alive. However, as there is hardly any musical development possible away from Germany, I turned to friends who are more familiar with the organization of musical education than I am, and they recommended the conservatory of Stuttgart, which is less famous than that of Leipzig and less dogmatic and therefore less harmful.