To the museum with R.; an overwhelming impression of a Giorgione, “Adam and Eve”! It moves and completely captivates R. Lunch alone with R.; in the evening, “Tannhäuser”, the saddest impression of the singer Schroetter![1] … A senseless performance (after Niemann!) and little voice. After the performance, we had an evening with Herr von Rudolphi, a serious and very pleasant man. (The candles during Elsa’s bridal procession in Hannover are meant to represent “kerzungen”,” said R.)[2]
[1] Hermann Schroetter, the engagement did not come to fruition.
[2] Wordplay: the word “kerzungen” (in High German, “candles”) in the Saxon dialect is the High German word, “Kürzungen” meaning “shortened”.
Note: Cosima and Richard might have visited the Herzog Anton Ulrich Museum. It owns a self-portrait attributed to Giorgione and “Adam and Eve” by Jacopo Palma (Image).
Revised English translation by Jo Cousins.