Category: Cosima Wagner Diaries

Twenty-one years ago today I saw R. for the first time!… He works on his score, I occupy myself with the children. In the evening we read Anabasis, noting particularly the role which sacrifice played even in this late period and in the mind of such a free spirit as…

Visit of a Herr von Balasy and wife, enthusiastic supporters of R. R. works; the day before yesterday he set the ravens croaking, and yesterday he said, “Nobody will be able to say that Hagen strikes down Siegfried without a backward glance, since he stabs him in the back!”  For all…

I have to be at the mayor’s at 9 o’clock to ask him to exert what pressure he can on the troublesome painter in order to induce him at least to beat an honorable retreat.  The mayor tells me that at the conference R. had shown admirable moderation and integrity,…

Early in the morning I walk to the mayor’s house to ask him not to call the conference before he himself can attend it. Nevertheless, Herr Hoffmann gets there earlier, to R.’s annoyance.  The embarrassing meeting goes on until after seven o’clock; in the course of it Herr Hoffmann is…

Many errands in the morning in connection with Lusch’s birthday. R. works. A conference between the management committee and Herr Hoffmann is supposed to take place in the afternoon, but Herr Brandt’s inability to attend means it is again put off.  In the evening Anabasis. Many domestic unpleasantnesses.

R. tells me in the morning about the book he is now reading, Hüllmann’s[i] The Oracle of Delphi, the origin of the name Hellas, etc. —  The children in school, Fidi at the kindergarten. R. works; in the evening Anabasis, great delight in it. [i] Karl Dietrich Hüllmann (1765-1846), German historian, professor…