Correspondence of Wagner and Liszt — Volume 1
Chapter 1
[score excerpt]
Later on--e.g., in the finale--this theme of course grows quicker.
[score excerpt]
(At the arrival of Lohengrin (A major) perhaps a little piu moderato.) The slow movement in E flat 3-4 (ensemble) in the finale of the first act you will, I presume, not take too slow, but with solemn emotion. The last bar of the orchestral ritornel must be played a good deal ritardando, so as to make the tempo of this postlude even more majestic where the trumpets enter, by which means also the violins will be enabled to bring out the lively staccato figures strongly and clearly.