BACK150 years ago, on 20 October 1865, Cosima von Bülow (wife of Richard Wagner) allegedly went to the Bavarian treasury in Munich to collect 40,000 florins owed to her husband by King Ludwig.
Officials had no paper money and gave her the entire sum in coins. She employed two cabs to haul the loot away.
King Ludwig II greatly admired Wagner; he bought him to Munich, settled his numerous debts and offered to stage Tristan, Die Meistersinger and the Ring.
Tristan and Isolde premiered at Munich in June 1865, here is the Prelude and Liebestod.