Second orchestral rehearsal (Act II) — a most moving impression! Yet R. has much trouble with it. Surely, only in Bayreuth will he be able to achieve a truly good performance of “Tannhäuser”. — Dinner with the Duke of Saxe-Meiningen; R. finds in him the very type of the old House of Wettin — something firm, self-contained, and sinewy in the features, which one might well trace back to Wittekind[1] — a character that in earlier times would have shown to great advantage, but, confined within the conditions of the present age, might easily degenerate into obstinacy. R. therefore finds the prince highly interesting. He unfolds to him his idea for a performance of “Faust”; as yet, little comprehension of it. — Later to “The Two Wise Men”,[2] an excellently constructed French play, very well staged by Dr Jauner at the Carl-Theater.
[1] Wittekind (Child of the Forest), leader of the Saxons against Charlemagne, was baptized in 785.
[2] Author not identified.
On a side note: “A visit from Marie Hohenlohe!”
Revised English translation by Jo Cousins.