Annals for 1851:
‘Die Stumme von Portici’. Quarrel with theatre. Hans and Karl to St Gallen to direct music at theatre. Visit them there. Finish ‘Opera and Drama’. — 12 February. Death of Papa. Mood of immeasurable sadness. Nervous trouble. Conducted symphonies at three concerts. Karl and Hans come to ‘Eroica’. Hans plays Tannh. Overture by Liszt. — Enge-evenings. Always: Sulzer, Baumgartner. Spyri. — also: Kolatsch: Solger (soon to America) then Herwegh. — Readings of ‘Opera and Drama’ in room of coffee house where also earlier club with piano. Swiss attentiveness: Köchly. ‘Siegfried’s Death’ also read. — New year, skin eruption: sulphur baths. — In May: ‘Young Siegfried’ written. — Much correspondence with Liszt. Zigesar, commissions ‘Young Siegfried’ for Weimar for 500 thalers in instalments over a year. Aversion to dealing with music until health improved. — Uhlig: Brendel. — July: to St Gallen where Karl R. alone (Bülow having gone to Weimar to see Liszt at Easter.) With him to Rorschach: there arrival of Uhlig. With the two of them Appenzell: high Säntis. Adventure with Karl who has to go back. Return via Toggenburg. Uhlig to stay. Piano score of Lohengrin. Dreadful news about Meser’s business. Swiss Journey with Uhlig: Brunnen; Grütli. Beckenried — Stanz: St Christopher in the Aa. Engelberg. Surenenpass: waterfall, to Amsteg. Maderanertal: Hüfigletscher. Great fatigue. Back via Flüelen. Beginning August Uhlig leaves. — ‘Communication to my Friends’ as preface to three opera poems. — Hydropathic reading: Rausse’s health radicalism. — Middle September to Albisbrunnen for water-cure (to Minna’s great sorrow). Karl also summoned from Stuttgart: H. Müller (Schröder-Devrient’s former lover) also comes for the cure. Minna visits. Water-Jew. Ignatz the Executioner. Liszt on subject of Lohengrin and Tannh. Press. Water torture. — Against which growing inclination for pleasant furnishings. House plans. Genesis of ‘Valkyrie’. Plan for complete realization of ‘Nibelung’s Ring’ with ‘Rhinegold’. Much stimulated. — Ritter’s uncle dies: family inherits and offers me regular 800 thalers of financial aid. Inform Liszt of my decision to execute the whole Nibelung plan, return to Zigesar (with Karl’s assistance) the payments received for Siegfried and revoke this commission. — Drag on miserably with unsuccessful cure. Karl lapsing. Whist. After nine weeks, back to Zürich at end of November. — Minna has accomplished removal: Escher-houses, front, ground floor; very small but comfortable; some luxury. Desk with green silk curtains (later sold to Blandine Ollivier-Liszt in Paris and taken to St Tropez). Dreadful nervous state: very thin and pale. Total insomnia. Continue cold hip baths: Minna’s distress; lights with lantern for early morning walk. — Karl too turns up. — Wesendoncks seek my acquaintance through Marschall: old lodgings, Escher-houses, rear. Karl to Dresden. ‘Opera and Drama’ in print: great agitation on re-reading. Preface to 3 Operas. Alterations during printing. — (Figaro as Messenger) 2 December.