R. constantly much occupied and very out of sorts; Mrs Grahn causes him the greatest trouble, and not a single decoration is wholly to his liking. — Many visits; in the evening the Dönhoffs, the Széchenyis, Count Apponyi, Mihalovich. R. at first much displeased with the company, but afterward exceedingly…
R. holds separate rehearsals and returns home ever more out of humour. — In the evening, a quartet soirée by Hellmesberger; I make the acquaintance of Mr Brahms, who performs therein a piano quartet of his own composition — a rough, ruddy-looking man, his work very dry and affected. Traduzione…
Third orchestral rehearsal! — The impression of the work upon me beyond all words. — Numerous visits; in the evening Lenbach and Makart, taking leave (they are departing for Egypt), and Semper — the latter very weary and aged, yet wonderfully vivid when we came to speak of Michelangelo, who,…
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…
R. had a wretched night! Drew up his protest against Mr Fürstner [1] — such is the reward of his labours! … In the evening a few friends. Earlier, had been with the children to “The Magic Flute”. — In the morning, first orchestral rehearsal. [1] Adolph Fürstner (1833 – 1908)…
R. goes early to rehearsal; I to the concert conducted by Herbeck — a pleasant and fine impression from a Haydn symphony in G minor, but Mendelssohn’s “Lobgesang” is enough to make one want to flee! … R. returns home and reports that Mr Fürstner has lodged a protest against the…
