Category: Cosima Wagner Diaries

Nothing of importance, either inside or out; R. works. In the evening there was to be music, but it has to be abandoned, since R. is very vexed by the “capers” of J. Rubinstein, who starts off playing like a virtuoso; we take up something from Christus, but the session…

Gave the elder girls piano lessons, did history with Lusch, wrote to Hemsen, the librarian; the mere mention of my friend’s death oppresses me and bows me down. — In the afternoon a severe thunderstorm, which is kind enough not to last forever, unlike the Wandering Jew. When I tell…

The children playing a lot with Richter. We have domestic difficulties and I many worries. Sketches from Hoffmann, who has at last made the alterations! R. works. The musicians come in the evening, and the third act of Siegfried is gone through; during it I think with unutterable melancholy of…

R. drinks his Marienbad water every morning, and it does him good. I go to church for the installation of a new parson by the dean. R. reads the dismal announcement of Marie Muchanoff’s death in the newspaper, and wonders whether he should write about her— but how? He says…

Long live our “servant”! We celebrate warmly the child who has brought us so much joy; memories of the day of his birth. In the afternoon we drive to the Eremitage, which we prefer to the Fantaisie; while the children are watching the water sprays in the grotto, R. and…

Made purchases for Fidi’s birthday; R. orchestrates. Letter from Dr. Hemsen, the King of Württemberg’s librarian, reporting that the King will not participate in the festival performances.