The rehearsal of Walküre before an audience, the acoustics are thereby improved as a result. There is much abuse with the tickets. 8th and 9th also public rehearsals, R. constantly with the King; on his departure, R. believes he detects a certain displeasure; the King forbids all ovations, yet nevertheless seems surprised when they do not take place.- On the 12th the arrival of the Emperor, the Grand Duke of Schwerin with his wife and daughter, the Grand Duchess of Baden, the rulers of Anhalt-Dessau and Schwarzburg-Sondershausen,[1] etc., etc.; R. also receives the Emperor, who speaks in a most gracious manner of the national festival. Finally.
[1] Günther Friedrich Karl II (1801–1880), Prince of Schwarzburg-Sondershausen, reigned from 1835 and aligned himself with Prussia and the North German Confederation in 1866; the principality ceased to exist in 1918 and became part of Thuringia in 1920.
Revised English translation by Jo Cousins [© Jo Cousins | WAGNER Salon]