Category: November 1875

R. at rehearsal; returns particularly dissatisfied with Lucile Grahn.[1] I with Marie D.—found her just as ever, warm-hearted, tender, and lovely. R. with the children at the aquarium. In the evening he goes for one act to “The African Woman” (“L’Africaine”)[2] and says that, were he to live in Vienna and have…

A complete hoarseness keeps me at home, partly in bed. — R. has two rehearsals of “Tannhäuser” at noon, and one for the “Lohengrin” decorations in the evening; he tells me curious things of the helplessness in all matters scenic — for the bells in the first act of “Tannhäuser”, a storm-peal; the flock of…

R. always at rehearsals from eleven until two, thereafter much exhausted and seeking rest; later he takes a short walk with the children, while I pay visits — among others to Professor Hoffmann and his wife — a long and oft-repeated discussion of what was experienced last summer! … In…

Visit to the Court Library while R. has rehearsal; unfortunately, the guide proved more a hindrance than a help. Visits in the afternoon. In the evening, discussion of the entrance of the guests in the second act. It remains incomprehensible how distractedly and clumsily R.’s works are presented upon the…

R. has the first scene rehearsal;[1] he is more satisfied with Mr Labatt[2] than he had expected, but the Wolfram (Mr Bignio[3]) causes him unheard-of trouble. In the evening we go together to “Andréa”, an exceedingly poor play by Sardou, though very prettily acted by Mrs Niemann[4]. Later we spent the…