The Art-Work of the Future and Other Works

The concluding piece, "A Communication to My Friends" (1851), explains his views on his first successes - "The Flying Dutchman", "Lohengrin, and Tannhauser" - and defines his agenda for later works. As spokesman for the future, Wagner spoke most of himself. In these works, he set forth his ambitions, identified his enemies, and began a campaign for public attention that made him a legend in his own time and in ours.