Category: Cosima Wagner Diaries

Recently we talked about the damage Bavaria has suffered in replacing its bugle calls with the Prussian ones—what is the sense of it? Our bugle calls are now as dreary as a desert, whereas formerly they were imaginatively stimulating. R. orchestrates his score; since taking the Marienbad water he is…

R. dreamed of the Olliviers, who received him with cold reserve; he addressed them in French and, gazing upon my sister’s face, suddenly recognized me in it. “Only Cosima has this expression,” he said as he woke up. — Memories of former times! “I have loved nobody except you,” R….

At 8 o’clock to church and there until almost 12; R. also comes, and all the children, including Fidi, deep emotion and awareness of the solemnity of religion and communal feeling; I think Daniella will always remember this day with emotion and exaltation. After lunch went to church again. —…

I have to write some notes about the theater for Boston; in the afternoon with Lusch to confession and absolution; R. speaks of her father and tells her he is hoping that under his protection she will prosper and become the future delight of her father. The child very moved….

Breakfasted in the garden, then took Lusch* for her examination. In the afternoon undertook with the dean the arrangements for confession, during which R. comes upon me, much to his amusement. Very sultry weather. Pleasure in the house and garden, in the evening a walk with R., feeling once again…

R. nimmt sein Marienbader Wasser, spürt aber wenig gute Früchte davon und ist tief verstimmt. Ich habe Lulu zur Konfirmation vorzubereiten und spreche ernst zu ihrem Herz; der herrliche einfache Mythos des Sündenfalls, das daran sich knüpfende Elend der Welt, welches uns einzig das Heil in der Erlösung finden läßt,…