The road to the first Bayreuth Festival in diary entries and letters.
The first Bayreuth Festival took place on August 13, 1876. The road to get there was rocky, full of setbacks. At that time Cosima and Richard built a theater, a house, chased money and raised 5 children. Both had extensive correspondence and Cosima wrote diary entries almost every day. Oh yes – and Richard orchestrated the Götterdämmerung…
All diary entries from 1876 onwards can be found here.
I dreamt that Kinowsky had got on the train in order to murder R.; R., on the other hand, dreams sweetly, and Fidi dreams most beautifully of his father’s birthday — which accords well with my own thoughts, now often occupied with R.’s approaching birthday. — R. writes to Frau…
More letter-writing without end! Friendly letters and business ones; among the latter is an inquiry to Bon Seydlitz[1] regarding the advance! … Ever renewed delight in little Fidi. The children out skating! In the evening took up some sonatas by Scarlatti, without much pleasure in them. — Took a long…
Although I had firmly agreed with R. that we should not speak of unpleasant matters — that we should either combat them or endure them, but converse only of what is fair — I nevertheless came to inform him of Mimi’s letter. He thereupon drafts a letter to Prince Bismarck,…
R. dreamt that the Queen of Prussia revealed herself to him as his mother! … “Justice, a beautiful word; sexuality is always at work,” he suddenly exclaims at table, laughing. — Yesterday he had listened to the talk of some men in a beer-house: the villages growing impoverished, no one willing…
We had a wretched night apart, the night-lamps were out of order, and moreover R. had the evil dream that I, having gone mad, wished to part from him! I spend the morning and afternoon in letter-writing; in the evening finished reading the tale of Almansor.[1] [1] Caliph Abu Jafar…
I would give thanks to Heaven and Earth that they permitted me to come into being, since a mission was allotted to me and I was permitted to fulfil it; I would penitently implore forgiveness for the suffering that has arisen through me; and I would bravely bear that which…
From morning until evening, preparations; in the evening R. presents me with a beautiful dress, yet the fairest gift of all are his words to me: “The only God I possess is my love for thee.” After the gifts have been exchanged, R. reads aloud from “Don Quixote”, over which we…
A fine day; R., despite an ugly dream (he hid himself, was detained, taken prisoner), in good spirits — and I also, despite a deep sorrow that seems it will never end! Quietly decorated the Christmas tree at sunset; nuts and apples gleaming in the golden light — a cheerful…
Further Christmas errands, my mother’s heart heavily burdened! — R. confers yet again with Herr Feustel regarding his affairs; he has written to Herr Voltz that he will have nothing more to do with Herr Batz! Proceedings against Herr Fürstner are being initiated, though with what prospect of success? ……
![Friday 28th (28th January, 1876) – Diary of Cosima Wagner Dictation, my eyes trouble me sorely; a fine Indian saying: he who brings forth beautiful works throughout his life, has overcome sensuality. A letter from Hofmann,[1] editor of the Weser Newspaper; he says that were one to attack the press openly with regard to R.,…](https://scontent.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.82787-15/623540943_18554307940038208_3264547974690737897_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_e35_tt6&_nc_cat=108&ccb=7-5&_nc_sid=18de74&efg=eyJlZmdfdGFnIjoiRkVFRC5iZXN0X2ltYWdlX3VybGdlbi5DMyJ9&_nc_ohc=-b5QLWRTRz8Q7kNvwHqrIiZ&_nc_oc=AdnBUM8ANNdSwzrwWnKebwpsQodV1XueDxrIaq6ymNaGirQqfFgPOV2fanlgBMhEX1c&_nc_zt=23&_nc_ht=scontent.cdninstagram.com&edm=ANo9K5cEAAAA&_nc_gid=6cneTiwriw5iApA2Hy_okw&oh=00_AfqW0vj-xrGySaW-OPPv2gan-pGbfGOVe0URLHPfy97QBQ&oe=69813DF2)
![Wednesday 26th (26th January, 1876) – Diary of Cosima Wagner R. not quite well; displeased by a letter from Betz; Fricke[1] is recommended for Hagen; in the evening, a ball at the residence of the District President! … Whereupon, on our return home, a quiet and intimate hour for R. and myself. [1] Image: August…](https://scontent.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.82787-15/622434712_18553879828038208_7308193389918063072_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_e35_tt6&_nc_cat=102&ccb=7-5&_nc_sid=18de74&efg=eyJlZmdfdGFnIjoiRkVFRC5iZXN0X2ltYWdlX3VybGdlbi5DMyJ9&_nc_ohc=Z6A3zZm8LskQ7kNvwFGslJS&_nc_oc=AdmwHZ4IEq9br2KstGCMmXu7AfxWSdxyjoDHSQoXO4oi0i05Sk1aJuVvhnDh6qu6K34&_nc_zt=23&_nc_ht=scontent.cdninstagram.com&edm=ANo9K5cEAAAA&_nc_gid=6cneTiwriw5iApA2Hy_okw&oh=00_AfqfiNrybBeWMYWSR7v6jkUeoItswz1yhoXZyErt6CWepg&oe=698137D6)
![Monday 24th (24th January, 1876) – Diary of Cosima Wagner The same life as ever, lessons, dictation, with the addition of many matters of business still to be settled by me; in the evening we finish “R[ichard] II”, which moves me so deeply that I lose my night’s rest over it. Image: Richard II. imprisoned…](https://scontent.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.82787-15/621534624_18553290880038208_4084092783347412434_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_e35_tt6&_nc_cat=101&ccb=7-5&_nc_sid=18de74&efg=eyJlZmdfdGFnIjoiRkVFRC5iZXN0X2ltYWdlX3VybGdlbi5DMyJ9&_nc_ohc=x2jiW0l_54UQ7kNvwFyZfTR&_nc_oc=AdlLofYCmazwdN35rohNz3-wb3FCzeXIXzcYuhBZMAkDZaH2BSbqCnQ8zVL9Chkdcw0&_nc_zt=23&_nc_ht=scontent.cdninstagram.com&edm=ANo9K5cEAAAA&_nc_gid=6cneTiwriw5iApA2Hy_okw&oh=00_AfqPgeDCsMOkVudKUUwESAenaI-a2mk43e2XPMPrJ6wXaw&oe=69811D4A)
![Saturday 22nd (22nd January, 1876) – Diary of Cosima Wagner Always the same activities; R. continues to occupy himself with the Arabs through the work of Bon Schack.[1] In the evening “R[ichard] II” by Shakespeare—among the historical plays my favourite – one act read gives occasion for endless wonder, admiration, re-reading, and discussion; it is…](https://scontent.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.82787-15/621136598_18552842746038208_377850129644692309_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_e35_tt6&_nc_cat=109&ccb=7-5&_nc_sid=18de74&efg=eyJlZmdfdGFnIjoiRkVFRC5iZXN0X2ltYWdlX3VybGdlbi5DMyJ9&_nc_ohc=8-Mb7iiY9D4Q7kNvwHKfPj6&_nc_oc=AdnrCqsj8kWu5lKdIVdB5F-l-8OgRUNskDqGgnn-ciNIkAHYjzh-1N_yrsCyMmEUWNw&_nc_zt=23&_nc_ht=scontent.cdninstagram.com&edm=ANo9K5cEAAAA&_nc_gid=6cneTiwriw5iApA2Hy_okw&oh=00_AfrKQoIQUCht45HdW4_3DqyAdlMrkUicvNt4LThmAwS4hw&oe=698139AF)
![Tuesday 18th (18th January, 1876) – Diary of Cosima Wagner The King sends his life-sized photograph; Dr Strecker[1] (B. Schott’s Söhne successors) pays us a visit and brings the score of “Siegfried”. He gives us pleasure by his very courteous demeanour. Constant dictation and work with Boni. — In the evening we begin the pamphlet…](https://scontent.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.82787-15/618415152_18552050209038208_3532465041126374465_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_e35_tt6&_nc_cat=107&ccb=7-5&_nc_sid=18de74&efg=eyJlZmdfdGFnIjoiRkVFRC5iZXN0X2ltYWdlX3VybGdlbi5DMyJ9&_nc_ohc=HhIIoDEMY0UQ7kNvwHpAqRL&_nc_oc=AdmT4Q-BtfSvLqFw0Z4PVOYn9c_HoKVl4R9Gec0X3J7HVAE4_yWLl_D8Zo2w4nhqFzM&_nc_zt=23&_nc_ht=scontent.cdninstagram.com&edm=ANo9K5cEAAAA&_nc_gid=6cneTiwriw5iApA2Hy_okw&oh=00_AfqlU7YyM7G07auzz8KmM9BF9CfQxoREwI42SPP2_JSL4Q&oe=698119A6)
![Sunday 16th (16th January, 1876) Our nephew Jachmann reports that R.’s presence is not strictly necessary; we celebrate R.’s[1] return from Berlin. — In the evening Herr Rubinstein plays some music for us, among other things Mihalovich’s composition “Hero and Leander”, which, when it comes to evidence of decided talent, leaves us in a very…](https://scontent.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.82787-15/617941350_18551714023038208_6063370480323095145_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_e35_tt6&_nc_cat=108&ccb=7-5&_nc_sid=18de74&efg=eyJlZmdfdGFnIjoiRkVFRC5iZXN0X2ltYWdlX3VybGdlbi5DMyJ9&_nc_ohc=Pf25_36PkVwQ7kNvwHU2MuG&_nc_oc=Adn9WplwH05RQmUSfSgzB9ZECE5tUJ30PR8DO-4aiNf22rA83IRVMFlqosJopUMv6-8&_nc_zt=23&_nc_ht=scontent.cdninstagram.com&edm=ANo9K5cEAAAA&_nc_gid=6cneTiwriw5iApA2Hy_okw&oh=00_AfreVsCM_r_aBcekCeIE15vvxYbo9xxKu9-fhiX1IHKyQg&oe=69810CA9)