R. wholly restored; reads “Parzival”, and finds therein the play of elaboration which, from Virgil down to Byron, so distinguishes the modern epic from the ancient (Greek) one!—In the afternoon to the theatre; Herr Unger sings a little from Siegfried (the last scene); the voice soft and full, the diction very good; many faults still remain, yet I am convinced, with R., that they may be amended. Last discussion in the evening; R. will see how far he may get with the director in Düsseldorf—contractual penalty [1] probably to be paid—but whence the money? Perhaps a concert in Vienna?—I answer my mother that I cannot give her such good tidings of Germany as she gives me of France; the best in the Germans is, at any rate, their dissatisfaction! …
[1] Concerns Georg Unger’s engagement in Düsseldorf, RW therefore wrote to the theatre director Karl Scherbarth, see 2 October.
Revised English translation by Jo Cousins.