Category: Cosima Wagner Diaries

visit to the Museum of Art and Industry; a magnificent impression made by a “Francis of Assisi” by Cano.[1] Dinner at Director Jauner’s; at half-past six, a wondrous performance of “Lohengrin”—R. attended it in the second tier with the children; I in a ground-floor box with the Dönhoffs. After the first act, a…

Peripeteia in the preparations for the “Lohengrin” performance: R. is positively exhausted by the rehearsals; meanwhile the baseness shown by the press does not cease, and Herr Fürstner is bringing it to court! R. intended to depart after the dress rehearsal (on the 13th), but Director Jauner implored him to remain, whereupon…

I paid a few calls, among them on Prof. Sickel, Semper’s son-in-law, who related to me the pitiful tale of Semper’s treatment in Vienna! Meanwhile R. heard Handel’s “Cecilia Cantata” [1] and is much delighted with the performance on Frau Wilt’s part, and profoundly moved by certain most ingenious passages in the…

R. went to rehearsal, morning and evening, and returns ever more dejected! “He who wants, must suffer”; were he to leave Vienna now, God knows what consequences might ensue! The most malicious tales are ever circulating in the newspapers — that we are selling our house, and so on and…

R. awoke in sorrowful spirits. Chose the costumes for “Lohengrin”, while R. conducted a rehearsal of “Lohengrin”, with nothing but wretched subjects! Paid a few calls; in the evening to “The Marriage of Figaro”—a most lamentable performance! Spent the later hours quietly with R., and thereby rose into a wholly cheerful mood, lifted…

Arose late, in a gloomy mood! R. must once more write a letter to Herr Fürstner; he will not desist from his demand, and R. will likely have to withdraw the new scene of “Tannhäuser”! Added to this, the most melancholy impressions from the “Lohengrin” rehearsals! Quartet soirée at Hellmesberger’s! In the evening,…