A joyful feeling, being alone together once again! R. is very satisfied with Gfrörer and his interpretation of John. In the evening, Mr. Glatz reports that he is returning to Pest due to an inheritance matter; “the dead ride quickly,”[1] says R. –
We review the Symphony of the poor organist Bruckner from Vienna, who has been sidelined by Messrs. Herbeck and others because he was in Bayreuth to present the dedication[2] of his symphony! It is lamentable how things are in this musical world. –
The “Andante” from Schumann’s E-flat major symphony, beautiful accents, yet such emptiness. The damage to Schumann lies in his not having recognised his limits; an overstrained talent.
[1]Line from the poem “Leonore” by Gottfried August Bürger (1747 – 1794), which Bram Stoker also quotes in his novel “Dracula” published in 1897 (“For the Dead travel fast”).
[2] Anton Bruckner (1824-1896), Austrian composer, had visited RW on September 13th/14th, 1873, in Bayreuth, where RW accepted the dedication of his 3rd symphony in D minor; Bruckner attended the festival in 1876 and 1882.
Revised English translation by Jo Cousins.