R. sent me the most curious letter from Herr Brahms, [1] as artful and unpleasing as his compositions. — At nine o’clock, farewell to Father — heartbreaking; he is in a most grievous state! … A sorrowful journey to Eisenach, with a five-hour wait; I visited the Wartburg.
At eleven o’clock in the evening, met R. in Neumarkt — much conversation. Among other things, I spoke of my two-hour discourse with the Grand Duke of Weimar.
[1] Concerns the score of the Paris version of “Tannhäuser”, which Brahms had received via Peter Cornelius and Karl Tausig; RW required it for the performance in Vienna — see also the subsequent diary entries.
Revised English translation by Jo Cousins.