Ferdinand Ries, Brief an Franz Gerhard Wegeler in Koblenz, Frankfurt am Main, 31. März 1831, Autograph

Ries hopes for succeeding Gaspare Spontini at the Berlin Opera were in vain. From Berlin Spontini will return to Paris. After only eight rehearsals the new general director of the Prussian Court Theatre, Friedrich Wilhelm von Redern, gave an impressive performance of Ries's opera "The robber's bride". Ries particularly praises the choir whose members received an award from the general director for their performance. Ries tells Wegeler that he has already sketched parts of the new opera "The sorceress", op. 164. He has met several times with composer and music teacher Karl Friedrich Zelter to talk about the oncoming concert travel to England and Ireland. With his letter Ries encloses the overture for Schiller's "Don Carlos", op 94, dedicated to Wegeler along with a note saying that he is aware of Wegeler's love for his children. Wegeler already knows the composition from the Cologne Lower Rhine Music Festival. The dedication on the title of the edition for singing voices published by Simrock in 1831 reads:"seinem Freunde / dem Herrn geheimen Ober Medicinal- u. Regierungsrath / Wegeler / Ritter mehrerer Orden" (to his friend / Privy Medical and Governmental Councillor / Wegeler / Knight of several orders). (FG)