Annals for 1852:
Deny onset of supposed year of upheaval: carry on: 32, 33 Dec., etc. — Letters: to Liszt (Goethe Foundation). To Brendel (Music Journal). Herwegh closer. The Wesendonck house: German Americans, Lésching, Stütmer, Christen. — Symphony conducting: Tannhäuser Overture with descriptive programme. Music for Egmont. — Theatre: Conductor Schöneck. Performance of ‘Flying Dutchman’ end April. — Tannh. in German Theatres. Schwerin (Henr. Röckel- Moritz) — Julie Kummer (Ritter) and husband arrive for water-cure. — Beginning May summer home on Rinderknecht estate’ — Frau Julie with boy. Cold, nasty. Valkyrie written. — (Herwegh. — Herzen scandal.) Also newspaper verses against review of Fly. Dutch. Birthday in open. End June town again. Modest income from royalties. Mid-July Alpine journey. Lucerne, Oberland: Brienz, Interlaken; boy for guide, Lauterbrunnen, Jungfrau, Scheidegg. Grindelwald. Faulhorn (wretched eagle) Meiringen. Haslital: Grimsel. (Rash menial as guide.) Sidelhorn. (Glissade) Obergesteln (Valais). Herwegh awaited in vain. Griesgletscher (sick cows): glacier crossed after nevous debility. Descent: Bettelmatt. Pomatt. Formazza Valley. Tosa Falls. Passo. Crodo. Domo d’Ossola. By carriage to Baveno (with rejected officer). Lake Maggiore. Borromean Islands. To Locarno and Bellizona. Monte Cenere Lugano. Hotel. Heat. Telegraph to Minna. — Late arrival. Dreadful thunderstorm. — Dr Wille, Herwegh, Prof. Freudenberger following. Expeditions. Turn back to Palanza, Borromean Islands (‘General Hainau’). Prof. Freudenberger’s fear on boat. Men back to Z. Baveno with Minna: (Italian one-horse carriage) Simplon. (Martigny: night without accommodation.) Chamonix. (Féte noire.) Mer de glace. Flechere: Minna’s fall, twisted ankle. To Geneva. Difficult journey by post home to Zürich. — — Theatres after “Tannhäuser’”. Wiesbaden. Breslau. Prague. Leipzig. Frankfurt. (Berlin: negotiations; Liszt to direct. This declined.) — Guide to performance of “Tannh.’ — October, November: ‘Rhinegold’ poem. November (in mild weather) excursion with Wille and Herwegh to Klöntal: very weary and poorly; insomnia: night at Näfels. Wallenstadt. (Loge’s closing apostrophe.) Revision of “Young Siegfried’. Completion of whole ‘Nibelung’s Ring’ poem. — Immediately read at Wille’s: first evening Rhinegold and Valkyrie; morning: Siegfried. Evening Twilight of the Gods. Great over-excitement. Frau von Bissing. (December.) —