Now they began to play. To my greatest surprise, it was a strong, full orchestra, outstandingly rehearsed, the tempi nearly all perfect, everything neat and well executed. My God, how I was moved to hear basically for the first time something of mine being played without me, and without anyone really paying much attention to me. And now this very piece, the Tannhuser Overture! I sat there plagued by an indescribable inner agitation – : unfortunately, I was being sharply observed by the public, which had taken note of this; yet I noticed nothing of all this, and burst into a river of beneficial tears. (…) At the close, the wild applause of the public that had no idea about what they had just witnessed The conductor and the entire orchestra turned towards me and cheered and applauded so much that I had to stand and thank them…

(Richard Wagner from Strasbourg to his wife Minna on 15 January 1858)