Category: Cosima Wagner Diaries

R. writes to the King, and I attend to arranging the laundry, which occupies me both before and after lunch, as the former housekeeper left everything in the greatest disorder. In the evening, a few friends. Mr Rubinstein plays us Beethoven's Sonata in C-sharp minor [1]. [1] Op. 27 No….

The morning spent with accounting books and the afternoon with children's lessons… R. receives some confirmations (“Revers”)[1] from musicians (2 harps and 1 viola), and sends his medal with a few verses to friend Feustel. In the evening, Lichtenberg[2] for me, and for R., Moltke; he finds the summary of…

Still no change in the situation; even Mr Unger, whom everyone holds with little regard, shows no excessive zeal and has not yet arrived. The only joy comes from the children, especially Fidi. I give the little ones French lessons. In the evening, great silence, at the end I read…

Farewell to the Ritters, an agreement is made that their son will come to stay with us starting in August. Arrival of Brückwald, meeting at the theatre, where R. wishes me to be present; it is a pleasure for him only if I am there, otherwise everything is a torment…

In the morning, R. always reads from the work of the “Generalstab”[1], with much pleasure. I write to the children and give the little ones their lesson. A fine letter from the King to R.; otherwise, many worries, the inn question, the money question, the Siegfried question, one might certainly…

The mood remains gloomy: “I am missing a hero,” as it says at the beginning of “Don Juan”, R. jokes, though without cheer. He writes to Niemann, lamenting his plight over Siegfried. Will it help? … In the evening, he takes up “The Jewess”, finding joy in the grand style…