Category: May 1876

Proben: Unger, Reichenberg, Schlosser, Rheintöchter. Seidl, Fischer und Mottl führen die Wägen. Wagner sagt: „Seitl“, Fischer „im Wasser“ und „Mottulationen!“ Frau Grün. Kühnert. Brucks. Jaide.

Rehearsal of Siegfried; magnificent! Unger surpasses all expectations, recalling somewhat Ludwig Schnorr von Carolsfeld. Great joy; alas, clouded by the anxiety whether the requested postponement will be granted us. — In the evening at the theatre; most of the musicians already present, Frau Jaide also. A thunderstorm, the rain pours…

In the morning rehearsal of the forge-scene with Unger and Schlosser. In the afternoon swim-rehearsals with the Rhine maidens in the theatre. In the evening supper with Wagner, Brand, Richter in the restauration.

Rehearsal; Richter is here, dines with his wife at our table. The rehearsal, at which R. demonstrates everything himself, has greatly fatigued him, yet his satisfaction in Unger remains. After dinner R. considers whether, in Rheingold, when Wotan greets Walhall (“so name I the stronghold”), he should have him take…

I drove up there with R. one of these days; the scaffolding has been removed—an exalted impression from the auditorium as from the stage, almost dreamlike; it moves one with a wistful exaltation. How little true participation has accompanied the spirit which here reveals itself; how detached it stands! This…

The artist arrive one after the other. Niering, architect Runckwitz. Courtgarden. Rehearsal with the gymnasts. Fricke shows the movements for the Nibelungs in Rheingold to them. We all participate enthusiastically.

Dance lessons in the morning. 11 o’clock with Unger and Seidl to the master. Unger not restored yet. Young Brandt was given a deadline of 6 days, in which the swim-machines must be ready, so next Sunday! – 7 ½ o’clock in the gymnasium. During the exercises came Seidl, Mottl…

Once more cold and nothing of a cheering nature; the painters Brückner so greatly in arrears; few applications from abroad, so that our friend Groß comes to entreat that R. should write to the King for a postponement of the repayment. R. does so without much hope, since the Civil List is…

On the Master’s birthday I arrived. I threw myself into tailcoat and white cravat and appeared thus, to Wagner’s great amusement at Wahnfried! “Here comes Count Almaviva!” he cried in greeting.  Cold sweat stood on my brow from anxiety, all the more because he said, apparently in complete seriousness, that…