Category: Cosima Wagner Diaries

Worked with the children, began W. Scott’s “Quentin Durward” with Lusch. R. worked on his score despite a bad night, he is plagued by eczema on three fingers. At noon Herr Hoffmann and wife, R. has at last persuaded him to make a new sketch! Afternoon party, which I attend…

Did not write in my diary from Monday, September 14, to Wednesday the 23rd. Work with the children, writing letters for R., afternoon parties, discussions with Herr Hoffmann—all this preventing it. 

Letter from Herr Hoffmann, who wants very much to talk to R.; we decide to invite him and his wife in the evening. R. is at first very agitated, but then calms down, it is agreed to have the maquettes sent back here from Coburg. —  The advertised Poets’ Congress…

R. works (after a bad night—“The whole of Nature is fizzing like bicarbonate of soda,” he calls out jokingly during the night storm). I work with the children morning and afternoon. In the evening we begin [Calderon’s] La niña de Gomez Arias. I am very tired.

Very bad night, during which I drafted amid tears an invocation to music for Marie Muchanoff. Bath with Lusch, work with the children, and after that wrote seven or eight letters. In the evening read “The Witch”[i] by Greene, without pleasure—a genius has no predecessors. (Before that attended a coffee party…

Isolde surprised us yesterday with a complete historical lecture, which Fidi brought to an end (it was about the quarrel between Louis the Pious and his sons) with the remark, “They squabbled as in a chicken coop.” Farewell visit from our friendly sponsors, who were extremely kind to the children….