Category: Cosima Wagner Diaries

The hall finally furnished and looking lovely. R. very pleased with it, I haunted by the constant fear that we are heading for disaster. — R. wants to terminate his contract with Schott and writes to Herr Batz about it. — Scaria works in the morning with Richter, in the…

Quite a lot of things all at once; furnishing of the hall, which is to be consecrated today; visit from the machinist Brandt, arrival of the singer Scaria (Hagen) and visit from Frau Loper, back from Karlsbad. Herr Scaria sings some of Hagen’s music straightaway, but since he knows nothing…

Today it is a Mime who introduces himself; R. is shocked by the unclear speech of these people, who all possess no consonants, particularly no S’s. — Visit from Franz Kolb, coming from the Rhine—curious repetition of the behaviour of the Brockhaus family, to whom he is related! —

A Rhinemaiden presents herself (Frau Pauli from Hanover), good voice, but no conception of enunciation. Richter attempts to accompany her, but cannot yet hold himself properly up right. Celebrations in Nürnberg for Hans Sachs, but nobody has the idea of inviting R. to them!… Speeches, music, all sorts of things,…

Correspondence of all kinds, R. has some difficult business arrangements, I think; I live in fear that our standard of living is far beyond our means! And I can find no way to reduce it, for R. wishes to have it this way.

Telegram from the Grand Duke of Weimar to R., expressing his emotion regarding the performances of Tristan. R. does not wish to thank him, so I do it for him. R. works, though very often asking himself whether he is not orchestrating too opulently!! Again worked a lot with Daniella.