Due to severe pain, Wagner was unable to attend yesterday’s rehearsal. From his barber Schnappauf (also a Nibelung), I learned that the dental abscess would be opened in the afternoon. Mrs. Cosima said that Wagner still wouldn’t be deterred and would come. “I described yesterday’s rehearsal to my husband in glowing terms.” “Yes,” he said, “You think everything is wonderful when I’m not there.” I then went to Eilers and asked whether he had practiced properly and prescribed exercises to help him regain the movements he was lacking.
Before the rehearsal, the two ladies Lehmann dressed in the Valkyrie costume; it is the most beautiful thing I have seen in a long time. Positions, gaits and use of the shield and spear were practiced. Then Grane (a black horse) was led over the rocks, a horse that King Louis sent here, he is 9 years old, pious as a lamb, who searches with his mouth for the hand in order to find sugar. It looks beautiful coming down three stories high over the rocks. Wagner didn’t come to the rehearsal again. Only the singing was performed with piano (act 2 Walküre).