Ferdinand Ries, Brief an Franz Gerhard Wegeler in Koblenz, Frankfurt am Main, 23. August 1827, Autograph

Ries once more demands to shorten the third act of his opera "The robber's bride". He writes librettist Johann Joseph Reiff a letter indicating the parts he deems dispensable. Upon completion Wegeler will receive the entire opera for review and further shortening purposes. Ries will also visit Gottried Weber (1779-1839), music critic and composer Gottfried Weber (1779-1839) in Darmstadt to obtain his opinion. Ries reviews a performance of "Fidelio" in Frankfurt and judges the first act as being nice but not intriguing enough and the finale as a failure: der erste Akt ist sehr schön, allein der Effekt hat mir doch nicht entsprochen, es hat mich intereßiert, gereizt - aber nicht hingerißen - aber der zweyte Akt that letzteres - wie Schade daß wir den Mann verlohren haben - die Finale, aber sind beyde miß[g]lückt". (FG)