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? … Herr Feustel told me, moreover, that a certain Herr Lucy, a notary from Paris, had inquired of the president of the Wagner Society in Munich (Herr von Baligand) as to R.’s present financial circumstances. From America they request of him a dedicatory composition for the Exhibition;[1] he may perhaps agree to it. —
The principal difficulty now lies in the payments, since the 30,000 florins from the imperial fund fail to arrive. R. declares himself ready to give concerts everywhere after the performances; yet that affords no guarantee upon which money might be raised. R. could die, it is said. R. asked me whether I believed the undertaking would come to pass at all. — R. remarks that he has now written no music for four years; how this pains me! … Herr O. Beta [2] has sent his brochure on the Jews, printed as a manuscript; it is poorly written, without style, yet contains curious insights into the present state of things. The melancholia of Antonio Shylock, compared with the present conduct of the Germans towards the Jews, is very well received. — In the evening Herr Groß comes with a letter from Herr Scaria, who demands for the month of August 2,700 florins and 250 marks for each rehearsal evening — R. forgoes this gentleman’s participation. He must now look about for a new Hagen! … A little music in the evening with Herr Rubinstein. R., despite all and everything, in a pleasantly cheerful humor.
[1]Grand ceremonial march to open the centenary celebration of the United States Declaration of Independence; RW finishes the score on March 17, 1876, and receives $5,000 for it.
[2] Ottomar Beta, writer and contributor to the Berliner Tageblatt.
Revised English translation by Jo Cousins.