I am once more able to direct and order matters, and begin again with the household and correspondence. R. has headaches and holds no rehearsal today. Arrival yesterday of the pictures by Adolph von Menzel.[1] R. at the rehearsals. Visit of Kapellmeister Frank[2] was disagreeable; he behaved badly in Munich and Mannheim—he relates the “Tannhäuser” battle in Bologna; the cries of “Evviva Rossini!”, the fighting, and so forth; the whole nonsense can interest one but little. Piqued letters from people who cannot be admitted! Also from Herr Herrlich,[3] who wishes not to sing merely one role, but Froh as well.
[1] Adolf (von) Menzel had made two drawings of the interior of the Festspielhaus with RW during the preliminary rehearsals in 1875.
[2] Ernst Frank (1847-1889), court conductor in Mannheim from 1872 to 1877, later in Frankfurt am Main and Hanover as Hans von Bülow’s successor.
[3] RW rejected the singer Herrlich, who had been recommended by Lilli Lehman.
Revised English translation by Jo Cousins [© Jo Cousins | WAGNER Salon]