Today 150 years ago

Richter the only one still with us; a joint visit to the theatre; the most melancholy impression, no progress whatsoever! … Returned home, a letter from Director Jauner, rejoicing at obtaining “Die Walküre” for Vienna[1] (the condition for Materna!!!), wishes to already begin with the decorations. – – – R. beside himself;…

Farewell to Dr Schönaich! Our friend Richter arrives in his stead, bringing with him no pleasant news from Vienna. Dinner with him and Prof. Bernays; the evening together as well. Yesterday there was fine music—“Tristan” and “Die Meistersinger”; today, the nonsense of “Othello”.[1]  [1] The wording is undoubtedly the opera…

Household affairs, dinner for Prof. B. [1], the Mayor with whom he lodges, and the Church Council. Very good atmosphere; the Professor knows and understands a great deal, and, what perhaps means still more and is rarer, he recognizes R. for what he is.

A visit from Professor Bernays[1] of Munich, the greatest living authority on Goethe; a very agreeable acquaintance. In the afternoon, somewhat startlingly [surprisingly][2], Dr Schönaich[3] arrives; we receive him into the house. When I am alone in the room, I feel drawn to the piano, and my mood easily flows…

Lessons with the children. R. much occupied with legal questions; he declares that he intends to appeal to the Reichstag, in order to have the law carried out and interpreted down to its very particulars.

Household troubles, the governess desiring a holiday, the chambermaid gone, etc. In addition, Siegfried is hoarse. R. receives a touching letter from a seminarian who begs for admission to the performances, yet adds that, if this be not possible, he would devote half his salary (six hundred gulden yearly) for…

Much occupied with the children. R. receives a letter from Dr Standhartner, Director Jauner makes the granting of leave to Frau Materna conditional upon “Tristan” and “Die Walküre” being given in Vienna next winter. Thus, even before the work has here been brought to fruition, the germ of its dissolution…

Herr Brandt comes, a true comfort, since he alone renders help; his reports from the theatre are fruitless; the foreman of the works proves himself entirely inactive. R. draws up circulars in order to bind the singers to their engagements.

Today the actual birthday [1]! Fine weather. Memories; for me everything tinged with sadness. Good news from Father. R. occupies himself with the Order of the Templars. Troubled thoughts of Lulu. Lessons with the children. Marie Hohenlohe and others write that Father is in excellent health. [1] Isolde was born…

R. dreams that I cast myself into the water, and awakens in tears and cries; it astonishes me, for never have I thought so much, and with such longing, of death. In the evening the “Kladderadatsch”, which contains much drollery concerning the performance of “Tristan und Isolde”! — Mr. Tribert…

Loldi ill, caught a cold; I divide my time between her and the lessons. R. is not altogether well.

Meeting, at which the machinist Brandt once more displays his entire superiority; he alone knows what to do; the ceiling, which can no longer be executed here, is to be painted upon canvas by the Brückners. Traduzione in italiano di Claudia Bilotti [© Claudia Bilotti | WAGNER Salon] Revised English…

Received visitors! The newspapers report that R. is to become General Music Director; then that he is selling the theatre to the Empire (!!!), then again the Faust project! R. discusses with the Mayor the forlorn condition of the theatre. News of the great success of the second performance. Traduzione…

Honoured Sir, I truly regret that I have not yet been able to secure the free time requisite to express myself concerning your alto violin so fully as I deem necessary, in order that I on my part might contribute to obtaining for this instrument the attention which is its due….

Household affairs and the children’s lessons. In the afternoon I drove out to the theatre; great alarm at the conditions there, it seems impossible that it should be completed in time! … In the evening, “Don Quixote,” the splendid scene in which he gives Sancho counsel upon entering his governorship….

Letters written; a despatch from Eckert reporting the great success of the second performance. In the evening Herr Rubinstein, conflicts!

Most honoured Herr Doctor,     The time has now arrived when I must come to an understanding with you regarding the interpretation of the various contracts or bonds which I concluded and signed with the firm of B. Schott’s Sons for the purpose of obtaining various advances, amounting together (if I mistake…

Brief and to the point! Here the “questions to be settled”, which Doepler handed to me in Berlin: be so good as simply to note, beside each number, what you will undertake, and what, on the other hand, Doepler is to undertake. Your dear Herr Bruder was of the greatest importance to…

Departure at half past one; spirits good, the weather mild; at Eger we receive the news that there is no connection and that we must pass the night here; this proves positively cheering to us, since we had made inquiries on all sides in Bayreuth. Much talk about the Arabs,…

Poor Brange is ill; yesterday she gave birth to three young, which are already dead! A silent, suffering creature—how exalted above discontented, complaining mankind! … [“All right, I hear you!!”][1] This jest of R.’s makes us laugh, otherwise there is little cheerfulness; preparations for departure.

R. had a bad night; during it he read two essays by a certain Herr Löffler on Götterdämmerung in the Fritzsch Newspaper, which are very good. — —  R. lately related at the dinner table how, in Vienna, he again encountered at dusk the poor man to whom he had…

Frau von Schl. writes that the Emperor has ordered the performance of Tristan for the benefit of our theatre—a circumstance which does not give R. excessive pleasure; he forfeits his royalties thereby, and the small proceeds are of little use. He works, I teach and make preparations for the journey. In the evening we while away the time in talk.

R. had a bad night, he believes to be on account of the newly arisen uncertainty with regard to Vienna; he works on the score; yet, as he has received no reply from America, he resolves not to drive himself. He feels as though he were once more in the…

R. had a good night, doubtless as a consequence of the resolve not to go to Vienna. Now, however, Director Jauner telegraphs that only the daily expenses are to be deducted from the chorus, and that he himself will discuss everything with R. R. telegraphs in the evening to ask…

Correspondence with the Aachen Music Festival Committee, which boasts that in the year ’57 it performed compositions by R. and thereby incurred many inconveniences; in recompense they now desire Herr Vogl at the beginning of June!! … R. out of humour with Vienna; a journey there seems improbable. He begins…

R. writes to Dr. Jauner to ask whether the performance might not be postponed to another time, since circumstances are now so grievous. — Germany is said to have lost one and a half milliards, and that chiefly among the working classes; the wealthy bankers merely make a show of…

I am occupied with the draft for R.’s birthday, besides the lessons. R. is greatly vexed by a dispatch from Jauner, reporting that half of the receipts, together with the daily expenses, are to fall to the theatre, so that the chorus will receive only about 2,000 florins from the…

Richter the only one still with us; a joint visit to the theatre; the most melancholy impression, no progress whatsoever! … Returned home, a letter from Director Jauner, rejoicing at obtaining “Die Walküre” for Vienna[1] (the condition for Materna!!!), wishes to already begin with the decorations. – – – R. beside himself;…

Farewell to Dr Schönaich! Our friend Richter arrives in his stead, bringing with him no pleasant news from Vienna. Dinner with him and Prof. Bernays; the evening together as well. Yesterday there was fine music—“Tristan” and “Die Meistersinger”; today, the nonsense of “Othello”.[1]  [1] The wording is undoubtedly the opera…

Household affairs, dinner for Prof. B. [1], the Mayor with whom he lodges, and the Church Council. Very good atmosphere; the Professor knows and understands a great deal, and, what perhaps means still more and is rarer, he recognizes R. for what he is.

A visit from Professor Bernays[1] of Munich, the greatest living authority on Goethe; a very agreeable acquaintance. In the afternoon, somewhat startlingly [surprisingly][2], Dr Schönaich[3] arrives; we receive him into the house. When I am alone in the room, I feel drawn to the piano, and my mood easily flows…

Lessons with the children. R. much occupied with legal questions; he declares that he intends to appeal to the Reichstag, in order to have the law carried out and interpreted down to its very particulars.

Household troubles, the governess desiring a holiday, the chambermaid gone, etc. In addition, Siegfried is hoarse. R. receives a touching letter from a seminarian who begs for admission to the performances, yet adds that, if this be not possible, he would devote half his salary (six hundred gulden yearly) for…

Much occupied with the children. R. receives a letter from Dr Standhartner, Director Jauner makes the granting of leave to Frau Materna conditional upon “Tristan” and “Die Walküre” being given in Vienna next winter. Thus, even before the work has here been brought to fruition, the germ of its dissolution…

Herr Brandt comes, a true comfort, since he alone renders help; his reports from the theatre are fruitless; the foreman of the works proves himself entirely inactive. R. draws up circulars in order to bind the singers to their engagements.

Today the actual birthday [1]! Fine weather. Memories; for me everything tinged with sadness. Good news from Father. R. occupies himself with the Order of the Templars. Troubled thoughts of Lulu. Lessons with the children. Marie Hohenlohe and others write that Father is in excellent health. [1] Isolde was born…