This morning Wagner was already awaiting me at the door and still full of praise. ‘Today, at dinner, we shall speak further of it.’ At home I found a letter from Diedicke and immediately wrote to him in reply. He will be pleased, and I will likewise be pleased, for I shall be able to have him here for the principal rehearsals. At twelve o’clock I gathered my gymnasts once more and told them too that the Master had been greatly pleased with their performances. —
4 o’clock. I have just returned home from Wagner’s. After dinner we still sat with our mochas. Wagner spoke of Kapellmeisters in general and in particular. We also came to Diedicke: ‘He should come at once.’ — ‘Master, I have invited him for the principal rehearsals.’ — ‘Nonsense; if he wishes to hear something, then he should come now; he is gladly welcome.’
During the coffee, due the clumsiness of the servant, a gentleman was ushered in, whom Wagner received with the utmost friendliness. He wished to submit an opera libretto to him and seek counsel as to which among Wagner’s pupils might be worthy to compose the text in his spirit. Wagner most courteously begged him to take a seat, and up to this moment the gentleman had not in the least offended against decorum. But when he continued again and again to press the desire that Wagner should inspect or examine his text, Wagner’s patience gave way, and without further ado, he was given to understand: ‘If you do not accept my invitation to be seated—’ Here Wagner became unintelligible, and the gentleman, who certainly appeared a thoroughly cultivated man, withdrew with a silent bow. It is regrettable that the man had not already been turned away by the servant. The consequence may well be that the poet of the opera text — who knows? — may furnish material for a newspaper feuilleton depicting Wagner in the blackest of colours. —
Yesterday, upon the birthday of little Siegfried, the Dessau Stollen was consumed in the Wagner household. I had it sent there in order to remind Wagner of his youth in Leipzig. Hans Richter brought thirty musicians to perform a serenade there at seven o’clock in the morning.
Revised English translation by Jo Cousins [© Jo Cousins | WAGNER Salon]